Laserfiche WebLink
of a minimum flow for passage was developed from 1) fish observations and <br />collections and 2) empirically recorded water depths during low-flow periods and <br />modeled hydrologic data. With the fish passage at Redlands operational, it is <br />imperative that a minimum flow for passing Colorado squawfish and razorback <br />sucker be identified to allow unimpeded up- and downstream movement of the <br />endangered fishes between the passage facility and confluence with the Colorado <br />River. <br />The minimum flow passage recommendation in this study was based on the <br />following assumptions: <br />the <br />1. Low-flow conditions make passage for sub-adult and adult Colorado <br />squawfish and other native fishes in the reach impossible. Fish <br />become displaced and move downstream to the Colorado River until flows <br />increase and habitat conditions improve. During periods of sustained <br />low flows, both habitat quantity and quality are reduced. Increases <br />in water temperatures and low oxygen can create suboptimal conditions <br />for fish. <br />2. Sub-adult and adult Colorado squawfish require a water depth of at <br />least 1 foot to negotiate shallow-water locations in the reach. The <br />body depth of a large, female Colorado squawfish can be approximately <br />6-10 inches. A fish with a body depth of 10 inches would physically <br />require at least 1 foot of water to swim and negotiate shallow-water <br />habitats. The 1-foot water depth was arbitrarily selected by <br />professional judgment. <br />3. Water depth was used solely to determine if suitable habitat existed <br />during various low flows for sub-adult and adult Colorado squawfish <br />passage. This study collected microhabitat data (i.e., depth, <br />velocity, and substrate) from each Colorado squawfish collected. <br />General habitat types (i.e., backwaters, eddies, pools) from captured <br />fish were recorded but not used. It is acknowledged that depth, <br />velocity, and substrate are all important habitat components in <br />determining habitat preference. However, microhabitat-use data from <br />sampling with electrofishing or netting are less accurate and reliable <br />than use data from radiotagged fish because the location and habitat <br />used prior to and following capture may differ greatly. Therefore, <br />electrofishing data were not used to determine habitat use. <br />4. The 2.3-mile reach is within critical habitat and has importance in <br />addition to a passage corridor based on the high use by sub-adult and <br />adult Colorado squawfish from March to September from past <br />radiotelemetry contacts and from fish capture and sighting data. <br />Although it is uncertain how far upstream larval Colorado squawfish <br />originated, the capture of larval fish in 1986 and 1992 from this <br />reach suggests that management should include consideration of its <br />value as potential feeding and spawning habitat. <br />This <br />various does not recommend flows necessary for enhancing or maintaining <br />life stages of endangered fishes in the 2.3-mile reach. Very little <br />ation is available for razorback sucker use in the 2.3-mile reach. For <br /> <br />11