7921 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7921
• Author: Trembly, T. L. and G. A. Gould.
• Title: Opportunities To Protect Instream Flows In Colorado And Wyoming.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Biological Report 87‎(10)‎,
• Copyright Material: NO

The results of stocking striped bass in freshwater habitats were sum-
marized by Surber (1958), Mensinger (1971), Bailey (1975), Gustaveson et al.
(1980), Harper (1982), Whitehurst (1982), and Axon and Whitehurst (1985).
Landlocked populations of this species complete their life cycle in freshwater
habitats associated with Millerton Lake, California (Wydoski and Whitney
1979); Santee Cooper Reservoir, South Carolina (Scruggs and Fuller 1955;
Scruggs 1957; Stevens 1958); Keystone Reservoir, Oklahoma (Mensinger 1971;
Combs 1979); Kerr Reservoir, Virginia (Whitehurst 1982); the Colorado River
and Lake Powell, Utah (St. Amant 1959; Gustaveson et al. 1980, 1984; Persons
and Bulkley 1982); and Lake Texoma, Oklahoma/Texas (Harper 1982).
Adults of coastal stocks typically are found in bays and waters around
sandy beaches and shores (Pearson 1932; Bigelow and Schroeder 1953) with some
water current (Hubback 1927; Raney 1952). They occur at depths from 0.6 m
(2.0 ft) (Haddaway 1930) to 46 m (151 ft) (Nichols 1966). Generally, only
mature or almost mature adults are found in marine waters, where they usually
are confined to the neritic zone no more than 6 to 8 km (3.7 to 5 mi) offshore
(Bigelow and Schroeder 1953). Adults from some coastal stocks undertake
rather extensive coastal migrations (Merriman 1941; Uladykov and Wallace 1952;
Chapoton and Sykes 1961; Clark 1968), while movements of adults from other
coastal stocks are generally confined within estuaries or river systems
(Scruggs and Fuller 1955; Raney 1957; Scruggs 1957; Clark 1968; Murawski 1969;
Barkuloo 1970; Dudley et al. 1977) or limited mostly to rivers, deltas, and
bays with some oceanic migrations (Talbot 1966; Chadwick 1967).
Mature adults typically exhibit annual spawning migrations and require
rather specific riverine reproductive habitat. Spawning sites may be located
just above the tide (Bieglow and Schroeder 1953) to as far as 320 km (199 mi)
upstream above saltwater (Raney 1954), but are usually located within the
first 40 km (25 mi) of a stream (Talbot 1966). Spawning sites are generally
characterized by rapids, boulders, and strong currents (Norny 1882; Raney 1952;
Mansueti and Hollis 1963; Talbot 1966). Eggs require suspension by currents
for good survival and successful hatching (Stevens 1966; Talbot 1966; Bayless
1968).
Adults generally return to feeding grounds in open water areas of
estuaries or reservoirs after spawning. However, Dudley et al. (1977} found
that adults moved as far as 301 km (187 mi) upstream from the spawning ,area
immediately after spawning and remained in riverine habitat at least 4 months.
The tendency for the species to be more riverine in southern portions of its
range is also supported by Raney (1952), Raney and Woolcott (1955), Barkuloo
(1967), and Wooley and Crateau (1983). Adults landlocked in reservoir systems
exhibit variable migration and distribution patterns.
Temperature has been reported to be a directive factor in habitat selec-
tion for juveniles and adults in some reservoirs (Coutant 1978, 1980; Schaich
1979; Waddle 1979; Coutant and Carroll 1980; Cheek 1982; Cheek et al. 1985;
Moss 1985). Eggs generally hatch in riverine habitat, initial growth and
development of larvae take place in the stream, and subsequent growth and
development of larvae, juveniles, and adults occur in lacustrine habitat.
Most landlocked stocks do not have access to suitable riverine habitat for
reproduction and are sustained by stocking larvae or fingerlings. Bailey
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