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Yampa River hydrograph should be protected as one <br />effort toward recovery of the rare indigenous fishes. <br />We recommend that the Yampa River be given <br />highest priority for water rights acquisition in the upper <br />Colorado River basin. Further efforts to coordinate <br />Green River flows (by operation of Flaming Gorge <br />Dam) with timing of Yampa River flows are needed for <br />recovery of the rare Colorado River fishes in the Green <br />River basin. The following summaries highlight the flow <br />events we consider to be important toward recovery of <br />the rare Colorado River fishes in the Green River basin. <br />These are presented by species and time of year. <br />Colorado Squawfish <br />Spring <br />Migration signals the onset of the reproductive cycle <br />in Colorado squawfish, and we consider migration cues <br />(e.g., high spring flows, increasing river temperatures, <br />possible chemical inputs from flooded land) important <br />to maintain successful reproduction. Duration and <br />timing of spring runoff must be further evaluated with <br />these needs in mind. Migration routes must be protected <br />and barriers discouraged. <br />Summer <br />Spawning and egg deposition occur in association <br />with declining flows, decreasing sediment transport, and <br />increasing temperatures. Relations between these and <br />other variables (e.g., type of water year) and spawning <br />should be further evaluated with respect to low-, <br />average-, and high-water years. The gradual decline of <br />summer flows following spring scouring maintains <br />natural sediment transport equilibria, prevents siltation <br />of spawning substrate, aids downstream drift of larvae, <br />and creates productive nursery areas. <br />Fall <br />Flows maximizing backwater habitat (quantity and <br />quality) in the upper Green River should be determined <br />using both the Yampa and Green rivers. Unusually high <br />flows in late summer and fall reduce availability of <br />nursery habitat for young Colorado squawfish. <br />Winter <br />Stable flows reduce ice scouring of shoreline habitats <br />that are used by overwintering adults and young. In the <br />event that flow quantifications through ice cover are not <br />feasible, an alternative is to provide best conditions <br />observed during the 198fr88 winter habitat study (Wick <br />and Hawkins 1989) or subsequent studies. <br />Humpback Chub <br />Spring <br />Spawning of humpback chubs occurs shortly after <br />highest spring discharge. Relations between these <br />events should be further evaluated with consideration of <br />availability of shoreline eddy habitat. The relation <br />between spring flows and abundance of channel catfish <br />should be evaluated. <br />Summer-winter <br />Habitat use and flow needs of the humpback chub <br />during late summer and winter are not well understood, <br />but minimum flows necessary for maintenance of <br />riverine, canyon-bound habitat should be determined <br />for dry, average, and wet years. Conditions favoring <br />reproduction and growth of channel catfish should be <br />identified and avoided because of possible negative <br />interactions of these species. <br />Bonytail Chub <br />Studies are in progress to evaluate habitat use and <br />needs of this species. Results of reintroduction efforts <br />should be evaluated with respect to the current Yampa <br />River hydrograph. <br />Razorback Sucker <br />Spring <br />Spawning of the razorback sucker occurs with <br />increasing flows associated with highest spring runoff. <br />Curtailment of spring runoff in the mainstream Green <br />River may be associated with loss of recruitment to the <br />juvenile stage. Relations between these events should be <br />further evaluated with consideration of larval distribution, <br />habitat use, and abundance in the Green River. Flooding <br />of bottom-land during spring runoff may be beneficial to <br />adults and important for dispersal and rearing of young. <br />Influence of Yampa River flows on razorback sucker <br />spawn in the Green River should be more fully evaluated. <br />Summer--winter <br />Little is known of habitat needs of the razorback <br />sucker during this period. Thus, low, stable flows <br />(natural condition) should be maintained until <br />additional information is available. <br />23 <br />