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<br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />represent ball traps but also serve as irrigation reservoirs. The ponds are interconnected by <br />underground pipe. Water suppling the ponds is a mixture of water coming from Lake Powell and <br />the cities treated waste water plant. A pumping facility is located adjacent to the northern pond <br />which pumps water to a sprinkler irrigation system. The ponds have a total surface area of <br />approximately 3.4 acres and are a little more than 2 meters in depth. They each have plastic <br />liners and are equipped with spray aerators. <br /> <br />Fish were stocked into the southern pond on May 16, 1996. Monitoring or sampling was <br />integrated and supported by other activities in the area. Fish were collected by seine and by <br />trammel net. Water parameters were measured using a hydrolab. <br /> <br />Water Quality Measurements In general, water quality was fairly good. Parameters did have <br />some significant, but expected shifts, dependent upon season, irrigation demand, and the volume <br />and source of water. The aeration system is probably critical to the fish's survival during the <br />summer months. It contributed to water column mixing and has a significant influence on <br />dissolved oxygen levels. Vertical measurements taken during the summer suggests that some <br />stratification occurs near the pond's bottom. Here DO concentrations dropped to 2.7 mgll which <br />probably represents the lowest detection range of the equipment used. Observed temperatures <br />ranged from 12.1 to 26.2 degrees C. Conductance varied between 946 to 1364 umobmlcm and <br />pH ranged from 7.8 to 9.3. Surface and mid-water column concentrations were always above <br />5.0 mg/L and normally nearer 8 to 10 mg/L. Data is provided in the Appendix. <br /> <br />Fish On May 16, 1996, the pond was stocked with 296 razorback suckers that were raised from <br />Green River brood stock in 1993. These fish had been designated as surplus and held in high <br />concentrations which slowed growth and development. Their average length was 115 mm and <br />they weighted 17 grams. <br /> <br />In July, the ponds were partially drained for maintenance reasons. The ponds were drawn down <br />to less than a meter depth and floating algae covered about 50 percent of the surface. Several <br />dead suckers were observed. Twenty-four fish were captured using a 15-m seine. Their average <br />length was 194 mm (Table 1). It was discovered that fish had moved into the northern pond, <br />apparently though the adjoining pipe. We also collected numbers of tiger salamander newts. <br /> <br />We attempted and had difficulty capturing fish in early March of 1997. Water temperatures <br />were still cool and fish were dormant and not active. Eleven of the fish captured in trammel nets <br />averaged 350 mm. Efforts were made again in early May which produced more than 130 fish. <br />Fish were quite active at that time and were easily caught with trammel nets. None of the fish <br />exhibited any sexual dimorphism which would be characteristic of active spawners. A subsample <br />of82 fish averaged 359 mm in length and an average weight of641 grams. The range of lengths <br />and weights were pronounced (Table 1, Figure 1). <br /> <br />2 <br />