9641

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9641
• Author: Hedrick, T. N., K. R. Bestgen and K. D. Christopherson.
• Title: Entrainment of Semi-Buoyant Beads and Razorback Sucker, Xyrauchen texanus, Larvae into Flood Plain Wetlands of the Middle Green River, Utah.
• USFW Year: 2009.
• USFW - Doc Type: C-6/RZ-ENTR,
• Copyright Material: NO

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CONCLUSIONS

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Findings from this study help us draw several conclusions about particle drift patterns,

the functioning of wetlands with different breach configurations, and the utility of various

wetlands for recruitment of razorback suckers in Green River.

. Based on drift rates and capture patterns, our findings from 2004 suggest that beads and

fish larvae are reasonable surrogates for one another and that they can be captured in similar

quantities when suspended as drift in the river.

. Capture of substantial numbers of unmarked and wild-produced razorback sucker

larvae in 2004 demonstrated that stocked adult fish are successfully reproducing. Distribution

and abundance patterns of these wild larvae suggested an additional spawning area was present,

in addition to Razorback Bar. Escalante Bar, which is just upstream of Thunder Ranch and on

river left, was verified as a spawning area by capture of ripe adults and may be a significant

source of larvae for flood plain wetlands, particularly those just downstream of this area on river

left.

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. Beads were not well mixed downstream of release sites in the Green River until

somewhere between Stewart Lake (22 RKM downstream from Escalante Bar) and the Stirrup

wetland (51 RKM downstream from Escalante Bar) in 2005, where orange and yellow beads

were captured in similar numbers in all nets across the channel.

. Mixing of drift particles is likely to occur more quickly at higher flow rates. This

conclusion is supported by the collection of a greater number of orange beads in the Thunder

Ranch near shore and breach nets at higher flows in 2005.

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