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found stranded in an isolated pond near the point of release. We captured <br />the fish and returned it to the river. It has since remained in this area. <br />Larval and Young-of-the-Year Collections <br />Colorado squawfish <br />1986 <br />No Colorado squawfish larvae were found within the 15-mile reach in 1986. <br />Squawfish larvae in the downstream 18-mile reach were collected from a <br />backwater near WWA (RM 158.1) and also from a backwater near the Fruita <br />Bridge, 5.6 miles downstream (Fig 3). In addition, one squawfish larva was <br />found in shoreline habitat in the Gunnison River, 0.4 miles below the <br />Redlands Diversion Dam. Estimated spawning dates for these larvae were <br />between 26 July and 5 August (Table 3). Maximum-daily, main-channel <br />temperatures at this time were 19-21 C; minimum-daily, 17-18 C. Though <br />river temperatures at Palisade (15-mile reach) were slightly less than at <br />WWA (lower 18-mile reach) during June and early July, mean-daily <br />temperatures at the two sites were very similar during the estimated <br />spawning period as well as for the remainder of the season. Thus <br />temperatures seemingly suitable for spawning of Colorado squawfish occurred <br />in the 15-mile reach during 1986 (Fig. 4). <br />No YOY Colorado squawfish were collected from the 15-mile reach in late <br />September. However, one 105-mm-long (yearling-size) Colorado squawfish was <br />seined from the 15-mile reach, from a backwater at RM 174.5; this is the <br />same area where adult squawfish were most frequently found. A total of 29 <br />YOY squawfish was collected from the adjacent 18-mile reach. These were <br />distributed among four of the seven backwaters sampled; all four were <br />10