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<br />3. On a mesoscale level, the maximum shear stress at the cross sections between the bend (XS <br />5) and the base of the upstream riffle (XS 10) occurs in the right chute channel because of <br />scour along the base of the rock outcrop and this provides the pool that meets the resting- <br />staging phase of spawning. The riffle/tertiary bar provides the location for the deposition- <br />fertUization stage. <br /> <br />4. The reported presence of large numbers of ripe and tuberculated squawfish at this site at a <br />discharge of about 600 cfs can be correlated to the results of the hydraulic analyses which <br />indicate that the riffle/tertiary bar that is most likely to be utUized for spawning meets the <br />microscale requirement for incipient motion conditions at a discharge of about 600 cfs. <br /> <br />5. Although the data are stUllimited it appears that there may be a reasonable correlation between <br />the observed locations of squawfish in the lower Yampa Canyon and the physical conditions <br />at the spawning bars during the spawning period. Combined fish capture and hydraulic data <br />indicate that different locations around the same bar are utUized at different discharges as well <br />as different bars. For example, at a discharge of 1200 cfs two of the three identified tertiary <br />bars at the RM 16.5 spawning bar met the PRM requirements and fish captures were reported <br />at these locations. Hydraulic analysis indicated that the third tertiary bar would meet the PRM <br />requirements at a discharge of about 600 cfs and fish captures were reported at this location <br />in,. J 992. The hydraulic data indicate that the Mathers Hole bar should meet the PRM <br />requirements at the range of discharges when fish captures were reported in 1992. <br /> <br />6. The physical conditions that determine the hydraulic controls at the three known spawning bars <br />in the lower Yampa Canyon are dissimilar. However, this range of physical settings produces <br />very similar hydraulic, sedimentologic, and geomorphic responses that meet the basic <br />requirements of the PRM. Within the limits of the avaUable data it appears that the PRM <br />provides a means of physically identifying other potential Colorado squawfish spawning sites. <br /> <br />7. Water chemistry data within the lower Yampa Canyon are extremely limited, but a preliminary <br />analysis of conductivity data collected by the USFWS in 1981 indicates that there may be <br />differences in water chemistry at the known spawning sites and these may be related to either <br />chemoreceptive imprinting or spawning cues. The reasons for the different chemistry may be <br />local tributary contribution of carbonates or gypsum derived from erosion of the Park City or <br />Moenkopi Formations during eariy summer thunderstorms, and or geologic structure control <br />of groundwater. <br /> <br />8. Resurveys of previously established cross sections at C1eopatras Couch, and resampling of bar <br />sediments at the same locations as in 1991, suggest that rejuvenation of the spawning bar, as <br />expressed by deposition of finer sediments, occurred at a discharge of about 17,600 cfs. <br />Topographic data did not indicate that significant change had occurred on the bar between <br />1991 and 1993. The sediment data suggest that moderate size flood events can counteract the <br />sediment coarsening and chute channel widening trends that are responsible for loss of <br />spawning habitat. However, without further investigation of sediment supply, storage and <br />subsequent remobilization in reaches upstream of the backwater-affected spawning bars, it is <br />not possible to define a lower limit for effective floods. <br /> <br />4.2 Resource Consultants & Engineers, Inc. <br />