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15-MILE REACH INVESTIGATIONS <br />Introduction <br />The Green Mountain and Ruedi Reservoir Round II water sale, sponsored by the <br />U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (BR), will result in depletion of flows in the <br />15-mile reach of the Colorado River upstream from its confluence with the <br />Gunnison River. The reach already experiences appreciable flow reduction <br />during the irrigation season (April-October). The endangered Colorado <br />squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius) and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) <br />inhabit this river segment, and concern has arisen that additional flow <br />reduction may further degrade their habitat. Additional downstream releases <br />from Ruedi Reservoir may be necessary to offset the possible negative <br />effects of flow reduction. <br />The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has begun a three-year study, <br />funded by BR, designed to collect additional information on the use of the <br />15-mile reach by these endangered fishes and to determine the relative <br />importance of this habitat to the overall survival and recovery of their <br />Colorado River populations. Specifically, data are being collected on the <br />relative abundance, movement and habitat use of Colorado squawfish and <br />` razorback sucker in the 15-mile reach throughout the year; these data will <br />be compared to similar data previously collected from other areas inhabited <br />by these species in the Colorado River subbasin. This progress report <br />constitutes a preliminary presentation and discussion of the data collected <br />through December 1986. Data collection as part of this study will continue <br />through October 1988, at which time a complete report describing the results <br />and conclusions of the study will be prepared. <br />1