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transect (Dmax) was located and recorded. One depth was then taken on either side of this point <br />and halfway from that point to either shore (D 1 and D2). Two depth measurements were taken: <br />depth from the top of the substrate to the surface and a water plus substrate depth were measured. <br />The latter was measured by pushing down on the staff gauge with moderate pressure and <br />recording total depth to the top of the water column. Sub-surface temperatures (°C) were taken <br />at each Dmax. If Dmax exceeded 1 m, a water temperature was also taken just above the bottom. <br />Aspect of the backwater mouth was recorded on a 1-5 scale. A value of "1" indicated the <br />mouth opened parallel to downstream flow. If the mouth opened parallel to flow in an upstream <br />direction, it received a "5". Backwaters which opened perpendicular to flow received a value of <br />" 3". Turbidity of the backwater at the three width transects, and in the main channel, were <br />evaluated on a scale of 1-3: "1"meaning clear and " 3" meaning exceptionally cloudy. Cover <br />(overhanging vegetation, submerged vegetation, rocks, boulders, etc.) on and in the backwater <br />was estimated visually and recorded as percent of the backwater surface area. Each backwater <br />sampled was first categorized by physical type; which was determined by its method of <br />formation or current condition. These categories included horseshoe vortex, isolated pool, low <br />velocity flow-through, migrating-sand-wave, shoreline eddy, secondary channel and are <br />described in Table 1(Report B). Data for physical type classification was complete for the years <br />1994-1996, but incomplete between 1990-1993. This was due, in part, to changes in the <br />classification system and personnel in 1994. Analyses on these categories were conducted only <br />for those backwaters for which a type classification was available. <br />Fish Community Sam ling <br />Fish were collected by seining. If large enough, the backwater was seined at three <br />different locations with a 4 m x 1 m seine of 3 mm mesh. The seine was pulled across the <br />backwater at the mouth, at a point I/3 the distance from the mouth to the upper end, and at a <br />point 2/3 the distance from the mouth to the upper end. These usually coincided with physical <br />measurements of each backwater. In the case of a parallel seine, however, depths were taken at <br />the outside edge of the net and at points 1/3 and 2/3 the distance from that edge to shore. If the <br />backwater was too deep to wade, the seine was pulled parallel to shore. A smaller (1 m x 1 m) <br />seine of 1.5 mm mesh was used in narrow, shallower backwaters or when larval fish were <br />present. Extremely small backwaters were often sampled completely with one sweep. Each <br />seine haul was examined for the presence of native fishes. Native fishes were placed in a live <br />well until the entire seine had been closely scrutinized. They were then identified to species, <br />measured (TL mm) and released live into the backwater. A11 other fish caught were counted by <br />species and cohort (sub-adult or adult). Samples that were too large to be counted immediately <br />were preserved in 10% formalin in Whirl-pak® bags for later examination after removal of <br />native fish. Preserved -fish samples were examined by UDWR personnel, or by the Larval Fish <br />Laboratory at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, Colorado. Length (m), width (m) and depth <br />(m) measurements associated with each seine haul were recorded. Fin ray counts were used to <br />categorize young chubs in the field, when possible (i.e. when fish were > 35 mm TL). <br />~~~ Monitoring <br />~~ In addition to four trend sites, two or three wild card sites were sampled each trip to <br />pursue the Colorado pikeminnow spawning issue and to determine if repeated monitoring efforts <br />~. <br />~~ , in these short stretches of river affected catchability. The wild card sites included: Flat Canyon <br />vi <br />