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<br />Duchesne, Dolores, and Gunnison rivers (Figure 1). No actual size defi- <br />nition has ever been attempted, to our knowledge, to determine if river <br />size (cfs) is actually a requirement. Adults have been found in the <br />mouths, or short distances upstream, of several small streams along the <br />Green River during high runoff periods. The mouths of these streams are <br />dammed by the Green River, thus forming backwaters. It appears that it <br />is the backwaters that are preferred, rather than the actual streams. <br />In many of the tributaries that squawfish do utilize, their upstream <br />range is usually at the lower end of the trout, or cold water, zone. In <br />the Green River of Wyomi ng, squawfi sh were reported to Green River, <br />. Wyoming, but not above. In the Yampa River, only one has been taken <br />above Craig, Colorado. In the Gunnison River, Delta, Colorado, appears <br />to have been the upstream range of this species, although recently they <br />have not been found this far upstream. Therefore, stream size, as well <br />as summer temperatures, appear to be determining factors in habitat <br />selection. <br />The areas within a stream that squawfish use have been intensely <br />studied in recent years. Young squawfish (1, 2, and 3 year old fish) <br />prefer backwaters and other areas with slow current and usually a silt <br />or silt-sand substrate (Figure 2) (Vanicek and Kramer 1969, Holden and <br />Stalnaker 1975, Holden 1977, Twedt and Holden 1980). Changes in habitat <br />selection during various seasons has not been noted. It is highly pro- <br />bable that during winter, flowing portions of the river are utilized <br />since many backwaters are frozen solid. <br />Larvae in the Yampa and Upper Colorado rivers are found in a variety <br />of calm habitats, often alongside rather swift currents. Since neither <br /> <br />6 <br />