7799

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7799
• Author: Modde, T. and D. Irving.
• Title: Conceptual Management Plan for Habitat Enhancement In Old Charley Wash.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

No. :

(for MC use)

RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM
FOR THE ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES
IN THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER

FY-1994
SCOPE-OF-WORK
RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Lead Agency: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
CRFP Vernal

Category:
ongoing project
Requested new
start
X Unsolicited
project
outside funding

Submitted by: Timothy Modde and David Irving
Colorado River Fish Project
Address: 1680 W. Highway 40
Vernal, UT 84078
Phone: [phone]

Date: March 21, 1994

I. Title of Proposal: Evaluation of the use of Old Charley Wash, as a
nursery site for underyearling razorback sucker and as spring habitat
for rare adult fishes.

II. Relationship to Recovery Program/Ranking Factors:

Historically, upper Colorado River basin floodplains were inunda~ed
each year by spring runoff, but today much of the river is channelized
by levees, dikes, rip-rap, and tamarisk. The lack of access to
bottomlands has been exacerbated by the reduction in spring flows due
to upstream impoundments. Numerous studies have suggested the
importance of seasonal flooding to river productivity. Because these
areas are more productive and are warmer that main channel habitats,
flooded bottomlands appear to be important rearing sites for
underyearling native fishes and may represent the key factor in
restoring recruitment among razorback sucker. When these habitats are
available, razorback sucker adults also use them extensively to feed
in prior to and after spawning and perhaps to spawn in as well.
Restoration of flooded bottomland habitat is thought to be
particularly important for recovery of endangered fishes.

III. Study Goals, Objectives, End Product:

The goal of this project is to provide a demonstration area for
testing hypotheses about spring habitat requirements for the early
life stages of razorback suckers, as well as razorback sucker adults.
Specifically this project will evaluate the changing character of a
flooded bottomland site through the warm months and its use by rare
fishes. The objectives for FY94 include:

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