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03/13/98 15:07 'x'303 245 8933 FISH & WILDLIFE 444 R 0 4 Denver @008/011 <br />support self-sustaining populations of endangered fish is one of the primary <br />goals of the RIP (FWS 1987). Flow manipulation has detrimentally impacted these <br />fishes but planned management of flow manipulation (mimicry of a more natural <br />t +ograph) might be used to benefit native endangered fishes. <br />Planned restoration efforts for the Gunnison River have begun. A two-yea-- <br />intensive and extensive fishery inventory of 75 miles of warmwater reaches was <br />conducted in 1992 and 1993 that also included 14 months of movement data on <br />radiotagged adult Colorado squawfish (Burdick 1995). Pond-reared razorbacK <br />sucker have been stocked in the Gunnison River. Twenty-four adult fish (24), <br />implanted with radiotags, were stocked in 1994 and 1995: 316 juvenile razorbacK <br />sucker were stocked in 1995. Future stocking of different sizes of juvenile and <br />sub-adult razorback sucker during 1996-2000 will determine the relationship <br />between the size stocked and their subsequent survival in the wild. A fisn <br />passageway at the Redlands Diversion Dam that will be operational spring of 1996 <br />will provide both sub-adult and adult razorback sucker and Colorado squawfisn <br />access to historic range in the lower 56 miles of the Gunnison River. Results <br />of the above as well as ongoing habitat and geomorphology studies in the Gunnison <br />River drainage and downstream reaches in the Colorado River will be used to write <br />a biological opinion on operation of the Aspi nal l Unit, as well to identify <br />recovery actions appropriate for the Gunnison River that will assist in recovery <br />of endangered fishes. Continued ongoing research and new information, which will <br />refine the existing provisional flow recommendation for passage and habitat <br />maintenance of endangered fish in the 2.3-mile reach of the lower Gunnison River. <br />will be incorporated into the final Aspinall Unit Biological Opinion. <br />5-