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1984 Work Plans As discussed at a joint BR/UDWR/FWS Meeting on January 24, 1984, flows from Flaming Gorge Dam have been implicated in the apparent Loss of 1983 recruitment for Colorado squawf ish in the upper Green River Basin. A meeting held with BR representatives on January 26, 1984, indicated that we should place more emphasis on the evaluation of the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam-than was currently in our CRFMP program. Therefore, an updated and expanded plan of work is being developed. Current work consists of three objectives as stated in Paragraph 3, CRFMP work plan (MOU No. 2-07-40-L3083). These objectives are as follows 1. To expand information on the distribution and movement of adult Colorado squawf ish to and from spawning site locations with the use of radiotagging. 2. To verify flow requirements of adult Colorado squawfish in relation to spawning success and survival of larval squawfish. 3. To determine effects of flow fluctuation at Flaming Gorge on the survival and rearing of young-of-the-year (YOY) and juvenile squawfish. In developing anew work plan, we would place emphasis on the riv er section dominated by Flaming Gorge Dam. Work on Objective 1 woul-d continue with little basic change, but operations would be shifted from the lower Green River to the section below Echo Park. Emphasis in this section would investigate adult fish movement with releases from the dam. Work in 1983 suggested that migrating Colorado squawf ish could swim upstream in cold water released from the dam and- successfully spawn in the lower Yampa River spawning area. This, and other preliminary spawning data, need to be further evaluated. Flow requirements for nursery habitat addressed in Objective 2 have been d ifficult to assess in 1982 and 1983 because of the extremely high fall releases. Quantification of spawning habitat-was also difficult in 1983 because of flood conditions. This work would be stepped up in 1984- 1985, to include more larval monitoring in 1984, with 19$5 targeted for B R hydraulic modeling and sediment transport analyses. Sampling for adults and larvae would be conducted at both the Yampa and Gray Canyon spawning sites in 1984 and 1985. . The main thrust of the remaining field work would be centered on Objective 3. Due to the problems encountered in 1983, it will be necessary to establish a permanent temperature recording station in Echo Park to + obtain water temperature data for the Green and Yampa rivers at this location. Colorado squawfish larvae drifting into the Green System would be monitored each year and their abundance and distribution related to habitat conditions. Habitat alteration with discharge studies (peaking power) from F1_aming Gorge would hopefully be completed in 1984 with the addition of the biological part of the work not completed in 1983. 29