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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br />Introduction <br />The inlet works to Flaming Gorge Dam were modified in 1978 to permit <br />withdrawal of epilimnetic waters from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. This <br />modification was primarily to produce warmer temperatures and thereby <br />increase growth of trout in the 47.2 km tailwater between Flaming Gorge <br />Dam and the Colorado - Utah state line. In 1978, the United States <br />Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) provided funding to the Utah Division of <br />Wildlife Resources (UDWR) to document response of trout growth and angler <br />utilization to the penstock modification. In 1980 the study was expanded <br />to include an investigation of what appeared to be unacceptably low <br />survival of fingerling trout stocked in the tailwater. Concurrently, BOR <br />proposed that additional turbines be installed in Flaming Gorge Dam to <br />increase power generation during periods of peak power demand, resulting <br />in the need to evaluate the effects of discharge upon trout habitat. <br />Consequently, the Flaming Gorge tailwater study was composed of three <br />elements: 1) response of the tailwater fishery to the warmer <br />temperatures produced by the penstock modification; 2) survival of trout <br />planted in the tailwater; and 3) habitat conditions for trout at various <br />levels of discharge. The purpose of this report is to draw together the <br />findings of these three study elements, to use the study findings to <br />synthesize management recommendations, and to identify further needs for <br />research. Although investigations have continued and other study <br />elements have since been funded, this report will be confined to studies <br />from September 1978 through November 1982. Harvest data are presented <br />for 1983-1985 but only to track survival of trout orginating during the <br />1978-1982 study years.