7617

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7617
• Author: Platania, S. P. and K. R. Bestgen.
• Title: Survey of the Fishes of the Lower San Juan River, New Mexico.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Albuquerque, New Mexico.
• Copyright Material: NO

•
B. Within much of the New Mexico portion of the San Juan
River, a comparatively large number of backwaters are
present. As currently established, the protocol for
sampling backwaters was too restrictive. Because this
study is still in the inventory phase, we believe greater
effort should be expended towards sampling thoroughly as
many backwaters as is feasible. Catch per unit effort
will be determined by surface area seined. Thus, we
recommend discontinuing the strict sampling protocol for
the duration of the inventory to increase the number of
backwaters sampled.
C. Although we recognize the importance and value of precise
backwater habitat description, we believe that this
effort should be decreased to permit sampling of more
backwaters. Thus, we recommend that each backwater
sampled be characterized only by (1) general
dimensions; (2) connection (or lack) to river channel;
(3) dominant substrates; (4) location in relation to
channel; and (5) water temperature, conductivity, and
dissolved oxygen at average depth.
D. Complimentary river channel physio-chemical
characterization should be completed at the bottom of
the first mile of each designated 5 mile reach. This
would include water temperature, dissolved oxygen,
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