9569

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9569
• Author: Valdez, R. A.
• Title: Synthesis of Winter Investigations of Endangered Fish in the Green River Below Flaming Gorge Dam.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: 18-11,
• Copyright Material: NO

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

ABSTRACf ...................................................... 1

INTRODUCfION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2

Purpose . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 2

SYNTHESIS OF GREEN RIVER AND YAMPA RIVER STUDIES ........... 4
River Hydrology And Ice C;;onditions ............................... 4

Green River ............................................ 4

Hydrology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4

Temperature and Ice Conditions ........................ 7

Yampa River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11

Hydrology. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 11

Ice Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 13

Movement and Habitat Of Radiotagged Adults ...................... 14
Fish Movement And Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15
Colorado Squawfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 15
Razorback Suckers ................................. 17

Habitat Use ........................................... 18

Colorado Squawfish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18
Razorback Suckers ................................. 21
Effect of Flow and Ice on Movement and Habitat Use. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 22

LITERATURE REVIEW OF WINTER INVESTIGATIONS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25

Ice Processes ... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 25

Ice Formation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 26

Water Temperatures Associated With Ice Cover and Frazil Ice ..... 27
Growth Of Ice Cover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 28
River Ice Deterioration and Decay . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 29
River Ice Breakup and Ice Jams ............................ 31
Effects of Winter Conditions on Riverine Fishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 32
. Physiological Effects ..................................... 32
Effects On Fish Habitat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
Fish Response to Physical and Chemical Conditions . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 35
Winter Food Sources and Feeding Habits ..................... 36

PRE-AND POST-DAM CONDITIONS ................................. 37
Hydrology And Ice Processes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 37
Flow Pattern, Magnitude, and Variation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 37
Stage Changes And Ice Formation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 38

Temperature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40

Frazil Ice And Ice Jams. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 40
Winter Conditions For Fish ..................................... 41