8188

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8188
• Author: Muth, R. T., et al.
• Title: Flow and Temperature Recommendations for Endangered Fishes in the Green River Downstream of Flaming Forge Dam.
• USFW Year: 2000.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

Final Report

2-8

September 2000

such as the Yampa River, also complicate interpretation of system responses to manipulation of flow
and temperature at Flaming Gorge Dam. The range of flows evaluated during the research period was
limited by meteorologic and hydrologic conditions as well as dam operational considerations. For
example, the biological responses of endangered fishes to flows that were greater than power-plant
capacity were not directly investigated.

Because controlled experiments were impossible to conduct in the Green Ri ver system, the
Integration Team used a "lines-of-evidence" approach to develop flow and temperature
recommendations for the endangered fishes. It considered the strength of evidence from all relevant
studies, including those conducted in different river systems, and relied on professional judgment
to determine flows and temperatures that would benefit the endangered fishes. The collection of
biological-response data for all species and life stages was complicated by low fish abundance and
incomplete life cycles of some species (e.g., lack of razorback sucker recruitment). Therefore, some
flow recommendations were designed to restore processes (e.g., sediment transport) or habitats (e.g.,
inundation of floodplain areas) that have been impacted by the construction and operation of Flaming
Gorge Dam and that are believed to be important in the life history of these fishes. The Integration
Team also inferred that enhancing natural temporal and spatial habitat complexity through flow and
temperature management would benefit the endangered species.