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stage of the species. Predation and competition, although considered normal <br />components of this environment, may be out of balance due to nonnative fish species <br />in many areas. <br />Habitat requirements of the fish species included in this designation vary, and what <br />comprises a constituent element for one species may vary from what comprises the same <br />constituent element for the other species. Where an area is proposed for designation for <br />more than one species, the Service has assessed the area against all constituent elements that <br />apply. Additional specific information on primary constituent elements for each of the fish <br />species is given in the next section. <br />Primary Constituent Elements: Species specific definitions <br />Woundfm <br />Adult and juvenile woundfin select runs and quiet waters adjacent to riffles that have sand <br />and sand/gravel substrates. Adults are generally found in habitats with water depths between <br />0.15 and 0.43 meters (m) [0.5 and 1.4 feet (ft)] with velocities between 0.24 and 0.49 meters <br />per second (m/s) [0.8 and 1.6 feet per second (ft/s)]. Juveniles select areas with slower and <br />deeper water, while fry aze more likely found in backwaters, stream margins or other slow <br />velocity areas, often associated with growths of filamentous algae. Water quality is <br />characterized by seasonally variable temperature, turbidity, and conductivity. Spawning <br />takes place during the period of declining spring flows. <br />Virgin River Chub <br />Adult and juvenile Virgin River chub select deep runs or pools with slow to moderate <br />velocities containing boulders or other instream cover over a sand substrate. Generally, <br />larger fish occupy deeper habitats; however, there is no apparent correlation with velocity. <br />Chub aze generally found in velocities up to 0.76 m/s {2.5 ft/s). <br />Virgin Spinedace <br />Virgin spinedace aze found most often in runs or pools in .clear streams. The presence of <br />cover, in the form of vegetation, boulders, debris, or undercut banks is also characteristic. <br />Substrates in occupied habitats include rubble/cobble, gravel, sand, and silt. Spinedace are <br />most often found in depths of 0.1 to 0.9 m (0.3 to 2.7 ft) and velocities of between 0.1 and <br />1.0 m/s (0.3 to 3.0 ft/s). <br />Areas Proposed for Designation <br />The critical habitat areas proposed aze those that the Service believes are required for the <br />survival and recovery of each species. Figures 2, 3, and 4 display the proposed critical <br />habitat for the three species. <br />7 <br />