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Other Management Options Some additional management measures could aid in reducing impacts of Flaming Gorge Dam operations on endangered fishes. The following measures are suggested: Bottomland Restoration The importance of flooded bottomlands for fish production has been documented in floodplain rivers worldwide (Welcomme 1979). Many such areas in the Green River have been lost by impoundment for agriculture, waterfowl production, and other purposes. Old Charlie Wash, Stewart Lake, and other locations near Ouray National Wildlife Refuge are potentially important areas that should be evaluated for endangered fish management. Barriers to fish movement should be removed or altered to permit fish access. These areas should be considered as part of the natural riverine environment and further evaluations of their importance and management is needed for restoration of the Green River and recovery of native fishes. Flow Re-regulation and thermal enrichment Recommendations contained herein may be difficult under current operational restraints. However, other options exist for flow re-regulation and thermal enrichment of Flaming Gorge releases. These options should be more fully explored, and re-regulation projects should be considered. Flow re-regulation projects might allow higher spring and lower winter flows without impacting power generation at Flaming Gorge. Control of Introduced Fishes We believe that current operation of Flaming Gorge Dam is aiding the proliferation of introduced fishes by providing a more stable riverine environment. Little emphasis has been placed on evaluating habitat requirements, movements, and impacts of these fishes. Interactions between native and potentially adverse non-native fishes should be investigated using controlled experimental procedures. Habitat use of undesirable fishes should be evaluated for input into development of control measures (e.g., via operation of Flaming Gorge Dam). It is probable that native Colorado River fishes are less affected by extreme hydrologic events than are non-native fishes, and that moderate flow regimes produced by Flaming Gorge favor introduced species. Population Augmentation Population augmentation of some fishes, particularly razorback sucker and bonytail chub, may be required to offset low numbers of reproducing fish and aid natural recruitment. However, an understanding of the chemosensory mechanisms and other biological factors is necessary before large-scale stocking programs are initiated for Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker. More emphasis should be placed on understanding fish behavior (e.g, larval drift, homing of spawning adults to natal areas, etc.) and using such knowledge in augmentation and restoration planning. 33