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<br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />This report presents information on movements and, to a limited extent, habitat <br />use by adult and juvenile razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus as well as a comparison <br />of growth and survival of juvenile razorback sucker between main-channel and off- <br />channel habitat. Habitat availability information is limited to the identification of flows <br />necessary to inundate Old Charley Wash (RK 402), a floodplain wetland on the Ouray <br />National Wildlife Refuge. The objectives of this project were to 1) describe movement <br />and habitat use patterns of adult razorback sucker, 2) describe the growth and survival <br />of immature razorback sucker in wetlands relative to main-channel habitat, and 3) <br />determine flows required to inundate Old Charley Wash. Because of the unrelated <br />nature of the above studies, this report has been organized into separate chapters. <br /> <br />Capture data during 16 years (1975,1978-1992) and radio-telemetry data during <br />three successive spawning events (1993-1995) were used to describe seasonal and <br />spawning movements of adult razorback sucker in the middle Green River. Greatest <br />distance traveled by razorback sucker occurred just prior to and shortly after spawning. <br />Movement to spawning sites was associated primarily with discharge, with greatest <br />numbers present on the spawning bar prior to peak flow. Although data suggested that <br />many razorback sucker in the middle Green River spawned at a single location between <br />river kilometers 492 and 501, other spawning sites were also used. Multiple use of <br />spawning sites by several fish suggested a single reproductive population in the middle <br />Green River. <br /> <br />Experimental studies to evaluate growth and survival of captive larval and <br />juvenile razorback sucker in wetland habitat provided limited useful information. Growth <br />and survival of juvenile razorback sucker in wetlands, with the exception of Old Charley <br />Wash, tend to be higher than in main channel backwater habitat. An experiment on <br />growth and survival of larval and juvenile razorback sucker in the presence of red shiner <br />Cyprinella lutrensis was unsuccessful because all razorback sucker larvae were <br />consumed by red shiner and only one razorback sucker juvenile survived to the end of <br />the experiment. Predation of larval razorback sucker by adult red shiner suggests the <br />potential for nonnative impacts on the survival of endangered fishes in wetlands. <br /> <br />An evaluation of availability of habitat in the spring was limited to defining river <br />flows necessary to connect Old Charley Wash (between 405 m3/s and 455 m3/s) , an 80 <br />ha wetland on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, with the Green River. <br /> <br />MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS <br /> <br />Movement of adult razorback sucker to spawning areas was influenced primarily <br />by rising flows of the natural hydrograph. Tag-recapture and telemetry data showed <br />that postspawned fish moved to tributary outlets and the vicinity of the Ouray wetland <br />complex. Thus, timing of spring flows seems to be an important cue for attracting and <br />concentrating spawning adults, and the magnitude of flows may influence postspawning <br /> <br />7 <br />