9333

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9333
• Author: Wright, B. R. and J. A. Sorensen.
• Title: Feasibility of Developing and Maintaining a Sport Fishery in the Salt River project Canals, Phoenix, Arizona.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: Phoenix.
• Copyright Material: NO

FEASIBILITY OF DEVELOPING AND MAINTAINING A SPORT FISHERY IN THE SALT RIVER PROJECT CANALS
Granite Reef Electrical Barrier Monitoring
To determine the degree of fish immigration
into the Arizona Canal, we looked at data from
annual fish collections (Jakle and Riley, unpubl.
data) at the head of the canal, between Granite
Reef Dam and the electric fish barrier. Species
richness and relative abundance of all fish
collected were compiled for 5-yrs (1991 to 1995).
These data represented an instantaneous estimate
of fish that were immigrating into the canal
because collections occurred on a single winter
day each year when the canal was dewatered.
Reduced water levels, multiple seine hauls, and
backpack electrofishing were very effective in
collecting most fish above the barrier. Surveys
were a cooperative effort among BOR, SRP,
AGFD, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Experimental Fish Stockings
Catchable channel catfish and rainbow trout
were experimentally stocked to: (1) estimate
growth; (2) determine survival; (3) assess tissue
contamination levels in fish; (4) monitor
movements; and (5) assess losses to lateral canals.
All fish were stocked at Site 3. On June 22, 1993,
we stocked 1,500 channel catfish (x- = 375-mm
TL) marked with a right pectoral spine clip. On
July 9, 1993, we stocked 500 additional channel
catfish marked with numbered Floy® tags; we
hoped to estimate growth and survival from
recaptured fish. On November 3, 1993, 2,200
FloyO-tagged rainbow trout were stocked ( _
250-mm TL).
Before the June and November stockings, fish
traps were placed in the first 5 lateral canals
located downstream at Site 3 (Fig. 6). No traps
were placed upstream of Site 3 because previous
research indicated that fish did not move upstream
through water control structures (Sorensen 1990).
Each trap was constructed of 2-cm wide, steel
diamond-mesh, and fit the inside dimensions of
the lateral canal control structures (Fig. 7). These
traps were designed to collect fish emigrating from
the Arizona Canal. Based on previous studies
(Sorensen 1990, Watt and Persons 1990),
monitoring for a minimum of 40 days is sufficient
to recover most stocked fish leaving the main
canal. Traps were checked daily for a minimum
of 40 days following initial stockings, to estimate
the number of stocked fish lost to the lateral
canals. We also checked the demossing structure
(Fig. 8) at Skunk Creek Drain (Site 1) for stocked
fish mortalities. The demossing structure at the
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Figure 6. Placing a fish trap into a lateral canal near Site
3, prior to stocking game fish.
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Figure 7. Water pouring into a lateral canal fish trap.
canal's terminus collected most floating debris and
organic material and deposited this refuse in a
dump trailer. Fish traps were removed at the end
of each monitoring period.
12 ARIZONA GAME & FISH DEPARTMENT, TECH. REP. 18 R R. WRIGHT AND f A. SORENSEN 1995