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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ................. ........ ........ ................. ................. .................. .............'.-.............'...-... ................... . . . . . . . . . . . - . . - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... ...................... ................ -..... . . . . . . - - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ...................... .......--............. ................. .-,",:.:.'-:.:.:.:.:.:-;.:-:. ...... !.:ACKNOWEEDGEM'ENTS:! ............. .. ................... ............ ......................-........................ -....-..... .. ......... ............................ . . . . . . . . . . . - -. - . . . . . . .......................,...................... .................... . .....................-...... ........................... ............ -............... .......... ............. ....................................-......... .........:.:.:.:.:-:.:.:-:.:.:...........-... .............................. ............................... ........................ . . ............ .... :::::::::::::::::::::::::::;:::;:::::::;:;:;:;::::::::::::::::::::::::::.:.:.: Cataract Canyon may well be the most difficult region in the Upper Colorado River Basin for fisheries investigations. It is a 16-mile reach of hazardous whitewater rapids surrounded by the roadless expanse of Canyonlands National Park. The nearest. boat launches are 50 miles upst.ream and the nearest take- out is 50 miles downst.ream in Lake Powell. Weather in the region is variable with searing summertime heat and severe wintertime temperatures that can produce massive river ice jams. The infrequent but heavy summer rains that helped carve this spectacular canyon country also produces dramatic flash floods. This inaccessibility and unpredictable weather compound the difficulty of sampling fish popula- tions in a turbid and turbulent river that varied in flow from 3,000 to 120,000 cfs from 1984 to 1988. This investigation could not have possibly been conducted without the assistance of many individuals, so many, in fact, that I may by oversight, and not from lack of appreciation, happen to omit some from this acknowledgement. Robert Williams, the Contract Officer's Technical Representative for Reclamation provided much valuable administrative and technical assistance, including participation in many of the field trips. Sharon Tully was also invaluable as assistant to Mr. Williams, and also participated in most of the field trips. Other Reclamation personnel who assist.ed in the field effort included Mike Pucherelli, Pat Koelsch, Jim Barton, Kirk ~hrnett, Matt Dlugolecky, and Jeanine Surber. Bud Rusho and Gayla Heaton provided valuable photography of the st.udy. I would also like to thank Reed Harris of Reclamation for his continued support and. advice. Many non-Reclamation biologists also assist.ed in the field work and provided much valuable advice. I would like to thank John Hamill, Lynn Kaeding, Chuck McAda and Bob Burdick, as well as Denise Hawn and Patty Schraeder of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; and Maureen Wilson, Miles Moretti, Denise Knight, and Teresa Smith Berry of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. John Wise and Pete Schropp also assist.ed in the field effort while gathering information for a news article for the Logan Herald Journal (Wise 1987). The majority of this work was conducted in Canyonlands National Park. I wish to thank the National Park Service, and especially past Superintendent Pete Parry and Superintendent Harvey Wickware and their staffs, Jeff Conner, Jim Braggs, Nick Easton, Stan Steck, and Kate Kitchell, for their assistance and support. Key to the success of this investigation were the boatmen that assist.ed in 29 trips without a single mishap or injury. The 1985 study could not have been performed without the capable assistance of Ron Ryel, who served as both boatman and biologist. Steve Ferriole also assisted in that first. year. The two principal boatmen/biologist.s from 1986 to 1988 were Bill Masslich and Larry Crist. of BIO/WEST. Their continued assist.ance in the field effort and data analysis are appreciated. I also thank Bryan Cowdell for his meticulous care in entering the field data into the computer database; as well as Lydia "Penny" Trines, Scott Cheney, Peggy Wood, and Laurie Goldner for their assistance afield. I would also like to thank Robert Muth of the Larval Fish Laboratory in Fort Collins for his expert identification of the larval fishes. Deep thanks and appreciation go to Bob Jones of TAG-A-LONG Tours in Moab for his logist.ical support, and to the very capable TAG river guides: James Gordon, John Baker, Stu Smythe, Joe Borshanian, Dave Evans, Maura Bell Loveridge, John Franklin, Karl Prager, Bill and Judy Schroeder, Larry Bluth, Tom Wesson, Stacey Miller, Kathlene Murphy, Karla VanderZanden, Saina Lekarczyk, Robin Gyman, and Rachael Schmidt. I also extend a special thanks to Mr. and Mrs. R.C. "Bud" Barton of Green River, Utah, for their help in shuttling our vehicles and boats to and from the launch sites. xvii