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<br />In 1981, CRFP conducted a basin-wide standardized larval sampling <br />program which was repeated in 1984 on the Green River. In 1982 the <br />Vernal station carried out an intensive sampli?g of mid-channel drift <br />mechanisms for Colorado squawfish. Sampling in 1983 was qualitative and <br />directed towards confirming spawning sites and periods through the <br />collection of relatively young fish that were considered recently <br />emergent. <br /> <br />Post larval young-of-the-year sampling was standardized between field <br />stations except that 3x5 mm (1/8x3/l6 in) mesh seines were used in the <br />Green River sampling whUe 3 rrrm.2 (1/8 in2) mesh seines were used on the <br />Colorado River after 1982. The sampling designs were similar except <br />that replications varied between stations and years depending upon <br />manpower capabilities. Sampling was scheduled so post-larval fish were <br />large enough for field identification but spawning occurred so late <br />during 1983 and 84 that fish in the Colorado River were difficult to <br />identify and therefore samples were preserved and later identified with <br />binocular microscopes. Sampling generally occurred fram mid September <br />to early November. The Vernal field station also conducted an early <br />spring sample during 1984 to corroborate the previous fall sampling <br />results. <br /> <br />c/ <br /> <br />Sampling was conducted under a systematic sampling design with a ran- <br />danized start. Each river was partitioned into 5-mile reaches and the <br />first backwater encountered was sampled along with an adjacent shoreline <br />area. All Colorado squawfish captures were measured individually for <br />total length (TL). Depth, velocity, substrate and total area sampled <br />was also recorded for each collection. Catch/effort statistics were <br />calculated. on the basis of captures per 10 m2 seined. Sampling reaches <br />were river kilometer (RK) 35.4 (river m1 (RM) 22) to RK 555 (RM 345) on <br />the Green River and the Green River confluence (RK 0) to RK 298 (RM 185) <br />on the Colorado River. <br /> <br />Information on the adult and juvenile Colorado squawfish population were <br />gleaned primarUy through a number of other sampling activities which <br />resulted in capture data that were useful for relative abundance and <br /> <br />4 <br />