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characterized by eddies, backwaters, side channels, and some pools. The substrate is <br />predominantly sand/silt. This reach of the Green River ends near Sand Wash above <br />Desolation Canyon. <br />Relationship to Constituent Elements: <br />Water <br />Flows in this reach are dominated by releases from Flaming Gorge Dam and flows from the <br />Yampa River. During an average hydrologic year, spring peaks of about 13,000 cfs will <br />occur at Jensen, due to an average peak flow of 8,000 cfs from the Yampa River and 4,700 <br />cfs from Flaming Gorge Dam. Flows above about 16,000 cfs are needed to inundate <br />bottomlands. Because of the distance between this reach and the dam and unregulated flows <br />of the Yampa River, near-historical water temperature levels in this reach can be achieved <br />for the fish. However, when summer and fall cold water releases exceed downstream flows, <br />water temperatures will be depressed. <br />Surveys from this portion of the Green River indicate that the concentrations of boron, <br />selenium, and zinc in the water, bottom sediments, and biological tissue are sufficiently large <br />to be harmful to fish (Stephens et al. 1988, 1992). This study detected increasing <br />concentrations of selenium in the water from near the detection level of 1 µg/L at Greendale <br />to a mean of 2 µg/L by Green River, Utah. Large concentrations of selenium were present <br />in water discharged from Stewart Lake (mean 6.7 µg/L) and Ashley Creek (mean 88 µg/L). <br />Selenium concentrations in return flows to the Green River have been shown to cause direct <br />mortality on razorback sucker larvae (Bruce Waddell, USFWS, pers. comm.). <br />Physical Habitat <br />Adult razorback suckers overwinter in the Jensen and Island and Echo Park reaches of the <br />Green River (McAda and Wydoski 1980; Valdez and Masslich 1989). Adults are attracted to <br />the large backwaters, tributary mouths, and flooded bottomlands within this reach in early <br />spring prior to spawning (Tyus and Karp 1990). Spawning habitat includes cobble/gravel <br />bars in Echo Park and from Ashley Creek to the lower boundary of Dinosaur National <br />Monument (Tyus and Karp 1990). During high water years, adults in reproductive condition <br />also are found in flooded bottomlands and tributary mouths within this reach (Tyus and Karp <br />1990). These types of areas provide warmer water temperatures, rich feeding areas, low- <br />velocity habitat, and potential spawning and nursery habitat. This important reach contains <br />high-quality nursery areas for the endangered fishes in the Green and Yampa Rivers. These <br />include the mouths of backwaters, bottomlands, wetlands, and tributary streams. These same <br />areas also are used by adult razorback sucker for feeding both pre- and post-spawning <br />periods. <br />50