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<br />Preface <br /> <br />In 1990, the Lower and Upper Colorado River regions of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation planned a three-phased <br />study to identify and address the potential harmful effects of electrofishing on endangered fish in the Colorado River <br />Basin. Phase I consisted of a comprehensive literature review and synthesis of existing information on effects of <br />electrofishing with recommendations for future research and interim guidelines to minimize harmful effects (Snyder, <br />1992a, original version of this report). Phase II consists of controlled laboratory and field experiments to address <br />selected questions and concerns remaining after Phase I. Phase III will field test the effectiveness of promising tech- <br />niques or protocols suggested as a result of Phases I and II. Portions of the 1992 Phase I report have been abstracted <br />for articles to provide a brief overview of the problem (Snyder, 1992b, 1995) and specifically discuss known effects on <br />fish reproduction, embryos, and larvae (Snyder, 1993, 1994). Investigations concluded thus far under Phase II include <br />those by Cowdell and Valdez (1994), Ruppert and Muth (1995, 1997), Ruppert (1996), Muth and Ruppert (1996, 1997), <br />and Meismer (1999); another is nearing completion (Hawkins, personal communication). <br />This Final Report of Colorado State University Larval Fish Laboratory to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Upper <br />Colorado Regional Office (Salt Lake City, Utah) updates the Phase I (Snyder, 1 992a) review and synthesis of electrofishing <br />literature based on over 60 additional technical papers, reports, and newsletter and magazine articles published on <br />electrofishing and its effects between 1992 and 2000. It also updates recommendations for interim guidelines on use of <br />electro fishing for collection of endangered fishes in the Colorado River Basin and for future research. As a recognized, <br />peer-reviewed publication, through and in cooperation with the U.S. Geological Survey, it is more citable in future <br />technical publications and available to a much wider audience. <br /> <br />IV <br />