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Aerial surveys using wing mounted directional antenna were conducted during each observation <br />week to determine approximate fish locations within the river. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />personnel obtained the fish locations by air in 1996. 1996 air surveys were usually conducted on <br />the second or third day of the observation week. The location procedure in 1996 consisted of an <br />upstream flight over the entire river reach followed by a downstream flight to obtain fish <br />transmitter signals. <br />Miller Ecological Consultants personnel obtained the fish locations by air in 1997. The 1997 air <br />surveys were conducted on the first day of each observation week. The suspected fish locations <br />were confirmed by repeated circling of the aircraft over suspected fish locations to confirm the <br />transmitter signal in 1997. Ground contact surveys began immediately after the air surveys to <br />confirm fish locations. <br />Fish locations in the river were obtained during ground surveys by walking the shoreline or <br />floating the river in a canoe or drift boat. After signal contact was made, the Miller Ecological <br />crew would locate the fish position using triangulation method from positions along the shore. <br />When ever possible the crew would obtain a strong signal and a null at a location upstream of the <br />fish location, then the crew would move to a position directly across from the fish and obtain a <br />second null signal. The fish position was the intersection point on the lines from the two null <br />signals. Usually this location was verified by obtaining third null signal at a downstream <br />location. This exact procedure was inhibited at times by fish position, topography or private <br />property restrictions. In those instances, fish position was estimated from at least one shore or <br />boat position. <br />RESULTS <br />Colorado Squawfish <br />Colorado Squawfish were monitored in the summer of 1996 and 1997. In 1996, Colorado <br />squaw-fish remained approximately at the locations they were tagged except for CS663 which <br />moved approximately 7 miles upstream and 7 miles downstream at the end of the year (Figure 2). <br />In 1997, one Colorado squawfish from 1996 was monitored and five new fish tagged in 1997 <br />were monitored and showed the same pattern of remaining within a short river reach for most of <br />the fish. In 1997, one fish, CS513, moved approximately 60 miles upstream from the point of <br />initial contact in August through September 1997 (Figure 3). <br />Colorado Squawfish #40:7810 (CS781) <br />CS781 was captured by electrofishing at RM 94.6 on July 25, 1996. This fish was captured <br />about ten feet offshore immediately downstream from a man-made rock outcropping. CS781 <br />was not located by ground crews again until September 11, 1996 (Week 5) at RM 89.9. The <br />FWS aerial surveys placed the fish between RM 91 and RM 87 during each week after it's <br />original capture. These locations could not be confirmed by ground crews. Ground crew surveys <br />consisted of a minimum two mile canoe float upstream and downstream of the air location. <br />Since ground crew surveys were negative on all occasions, these air locations were not <br />considered valid. Fish CS781 was located from the air at RM 89.8 by a member of the Miller <br />Final Report - Colorado squawfish habitat Page 7 <br />Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. December 17, 1997