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DRAFT26 <br />habitat area than in the middle Green River and Upper Colorado (Grand Valley) reaches, this <br />study did not adequately address the capture probability or representation of centrazchidae such as <br />green sunfish or smallmouth bass, which aze more common elsewhere. <br />The purpose of ISMP sampling to date, is to represent trends and annual indices of <br />Colorado squawfish and sympatric species. Since we have shown that ISMP is a good estimator <br />of the more intense nursery habitat results, we believe the established ISMP protocol is sufficient <br />to accomplish this. <br />Video interpretation* <br />*NOTE* The analysis of video interpretation of quality habitat is not yet finished. The <br />objective was to determine if aerial video could be used to measure the amount of available <br />quality habitat, and if that quantity could be used as a predictor of Colorado squawfish yeaz class <br />strength. Preliminary work indicates that quality habitat can be successfully distinguished from <br />aerial video. Regazdless of how accurate video measurement could be, it would not be a useful <br />tool for this purpose because the amount offield-measured quality habitat is not a good predictor <br />of year class strength. However, if future efforts to control non-native cyprinids aze successful, it <br />might become useful at that time. <br />Recommendations <br />The data collected and swnmarized in this study aze highly variable and contradictory. This is due <br />in a large degree, to the inherent variability in the large desert river systems in which we aze <br />working. These long lived fish evolved in this unusual environment and so can survive the more <br />-26- <br />