7152

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7152
• Author: Holden, P. B.
• Title: Relationship between Flows in the Yampa River and Success of Rare Fish Populations in the Green River System.
• USFW Year: 1980.
• USFW - Doc Type: Logan, Utah.
• Copyright Material: NO

37

Yampa could have disastrous consequences, and the coordination necessary

to produce normal flow and temperature patterns from dams on both

rivers would probably negate the power producinq potential of the

systems involved. Squawfish reproduction in Dinosaur National Monument

is expected to be improved considerably by the recent inlet modifications
in Flaming Gorge Dam. Regulation of the Yampa River would probably

negate this potential for resurrection of past spawning conditions.

CONCLUSION

The data presented in this report indicate that the flow of the

Yampa River is very important in regard to the successful maintenance

of rare Colorado River fishes in the Green River. Normal spring flows
from the Yampa River are highly correlated with success of Colorado
squawfish reproduction in the upper Green River. The bony tail chub and
razorback sucker, as well as the Colorado squawfish, require large river

habitat for their survival, and the flows in the Green River system are

apparently already too low to provide sufficient habitat for the bony-
tail chub. The Yampa River is the main source of flow to the Green

River and, therefore, is the major reason the large river fishes still

exist in the Green.

LITERATURE CITED

Holden, P. B. 1973. Distribution, abundance and life history of the
fishes of the upper Colorado River Basin. Unpub. Ph.D. Dissertation,
Utah State University, Logan. 59 pp.