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the data sheet as were northern pike, walleye, largemouth and smallmouth bass and <br />green sunfish. <br />Electrofishing resumed from the point of termination. At the end of each <br />subreach, new data sheets were begun and the elapsed-time clock reset. Sampling <br />continued on one shoreline through an entire Reach after which the crew returned to the <br />top of the Reach and began sampling the opposite shoreline. In most cases the second <br />shoreline was sampled the following day. <br />Beginning in 1993, efforts were made to count all fish encountered in certain <br />subreaches. The intention was to develop an index of fish abundance in order to detect <br />fluctuations in all fish species. Initially (1993) counts were made in an alternating <br />fashion from one shore to the next over 30 minute time intervals. This resulted in a <br />checkerboard arrangement of surveyed sections. This method was modified in 1994 to <br />make the method standard and repeatable. Alt fish encountered in the first mile of each <br />shoreline in each subreach were counted. This removed the variability due- to travel <br />time, allowed for direct computation of fish per mile and standardized the areas <br />sampled. ^'~ <br />F- ~-3 R~ k-' [. ^~e <br />•.:, d rd <br />-.~ ;~ <br />ISMP Young-of-the-year Monitoring <br />Sampling for YOY squawfish was conducted in the fall between 20 September <br />and •10 October, before main channel and backwater temperatures equalized and while <br />YOY squawfish were still likely to be present in backwater areas. The 104 mile <br />monitoring Reach was divided into 5-mile .subreaches for sampling purposes. Sampling <br />began at the upstream end of the Reach and proceeded downstream. A 3-5 person crew <br />stopped at the first 2 suitable backwaters (> 30 my x I ft deep) encountered in each S- <br />mile subreach. The first backwater encountered was called the Primary backwater, while <br />the second was classified the Secondary backwater. Two non-overlapping seine hauls <br />were made in each backwater using a 4 m wide by 1.2 m deep, 3.2 nun ace-mesh beach <br />seine. All seine hauls were pulled across the backwater from shore to shore, except <br />where water depth made this impossible. If depths were too great, the haul was made <br />parallel to the shore of the backwater, extending as far into the backwater as possible. <br />Both the interface with the main channel and the shallow upper end of the backwater <br />were avoided in the sampling procedure. Whenever possible, the first seine haul <br />sampled the deepest part of the backwater. <br />All fish caught in the first seine haul in the Primary backwater were enumerated. <br />Colorado squawfish were measured to Length and released. All other fishes that could <br />be effectively and quickly counted, were counted and released. Remaining fish were <br />preserved in 10% buffered formaldehyde for later laboratory identification. Buckets and <br />small aquarium type dip-nets facilitated the counting and measuring of YOY squawfish. <br />The second seine haul in the Primary backwater and both seine hauls in the Secondary <br />6 <br />