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Preliminary results from sampling in 1997 indicated that the adult population densities <br />are increasing likely in response to recent recruitment, which. coincides with a period of <br />moderate to high flows in 1993, 1995 and 1996. <br />Spawning Colorado pikeminnow <br />Anew spawning location for Colorado pikeminnow in Deso/Gray was not found. The <br />Three Fords spawning area was further described to include an 18 km stretch of river <br />extending from RK 256 to 238 with the focus of spawning activity shifting within this <br />area on an annual basis <br />Sympatric Species <br />Trends in the flannehnouth sucker catch rate has followed a similar pattern to-that of the <br />chubs, with relatively high catch rates recorded in 1989 followed by a general decline <br />throughout the canyon through the summer of 1994 sampling trip. In 1995, CPE <br />increased dramatically at all sites with the greatest site CPE recorded at RK 295.7. A <br />length frequency analysis for flannelmouth suckers indicates poor recruitment of juvenile <br />flannelmouth sucker through 1993. Beginning in 1994 and continuing through 1996 <br />population structure appears to have rebounded. <br />Channel catfish were the most abundant species collected from main channel habitats <br />with nets and electrofishing every year of study. Throughout the course of six years of <br />fish community monitoring channel catfish have been nearly twice as abundant as Gila <br />spp. In 1993, channel catfish apparently failed to successfully reproduce, or recruit for the <br />first time since 1989. However, successful catfish recruitment was documented during <br />this project's highest flow year (1995). Channel catfish response to flow in Deso/Gray is <br />unclear. <br />RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Flow levels <br />Definitive flow relationships could not be established as result of these project efforts. <br />However the following observations were made. The two flow years Gila spp. spawned <br />most successfully (1993 and 1994) were extremely different. The Green River peaked at <br />25,800 cfs in 1993 and at 11,800 cfs in 1994. The breadth of the 1993 peak as measured <br />by average flow days in excess of 6000 cfs was nearly twice as long as in 1994. A <br />moderately abundant cohort of Gila spp: were produced in 1996 - a similar flow year to <br />1.993; differing in that the breadth of the peak lasted 90 days. Catch rates of YOY <br />Colorado pikeminnow were greatest in 1993 and 1996. During moderate to wet years: <br />peak flows near 25,000 cfs with the breadth of the peak lasting 60 days or more <br />appear to benefit both Gila spp. and Colorado pikeminnow. <br />xxi <br />