7180

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7180
• Author: Miller, W. H., H. M. Tyus and L. R. Kaeding.
• Title: Colorado River Fishes Monitoring Project First Annual Report.
• USFW Year: 1983.
• USFW - Doc Type: Salt Lake City, Utah.
• Copyright Material: NO

INTRODUCTION
The Fish and Wildlife Service (Fk1S) and the Bureau of Reclamation
(BR) recently completed a three year study (1979-82) of endangered
Colorado River fishes; Colorado squawfish Pt chocheilus lucius), humpback
chub Gila cypha) and bonytail chub (Gila elegans . In April 1982 a
final report was completed on the Colorado River Fishery Project (CRFP)
work and submitted to BR (Miller et al. 1982).
The BR and FWS began the Colido River Fishery Monitoring Program
(CRFMP) in 1982, to further expand on the information base for the
endangered Colorado River fishes. There are three specific objectives
of the present CRFMP study:
1) To expand information on the distribution and movement of
adult Colorado squawfish to and from spawning site locations
with the use of radio tagging. Area of study to include
headwater of Lake Powell, the Gunnison, Colorado, and
Green rivers.
2) To verify flow requirements of adult Colorado squawfish in
relation to spawning success and survival of larval Colorado
squawfish.
3) To determine effects of flow fluctuation at Flaming Gorge
Dam on the survival and rearing of young-of-the-year (YOY)
and juvenile Colorado squawfish.
This study is designed to verify and build upon the work completed
in the 1979-81 CRFP studies. These CRFP studies indicated that the
Colorado squawfish has the most potential for management in the Upper
Colorado River. Also, because the Colorado squawfish has a wide distribution,
exhibits long movements and has very specific life requirements, it is
believed that if the requirements of Colorado squawfish are met, other
endangered species requirements will also be met. The objectives of
this study are somewhat interrelated, especially Objectives 1 and 2
(i.e.: Radiotelemetry will be needed in order to verify flows needed
for spawning). The success of spawning, Objective 2, as projected from
collections of YOY fish aids in accomplishing Objective 3, impact of
flow on YOY survival.
During 1982, studies were limited to the Colorado River between
Palisade, Colorado and Hite, Utah; the Gunnison River between the Redlands
Diversion structure and the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado
rivers; the lower 20 miles of Yampa River; and the Green River from the
confluence of the Yampa downstream to Gray Canyon (Figure 1). Assistance
was also given to Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) in tracking
Colorado squawfish radiotagged in the White River of Utah.