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Within each 0.5 mi (0.8 km) station, discrete habitat types were <br />delineated (Figure 3) and fish collections were conducted within them, <br />rather than across several habitats. This permitted habitat preference <br />delineation for fish species with depths, velocities and substrates <br />recorded for each collection. <br />Sampling was stratified temporally by day and season. Days were <br />subdivided into three sampling periods, and a midday period of sampling <br />inactivity was reserved for equipment maintenance, travel and personal <br />activities of the crew (Figure 4). Daylight activities were devoted to <br />netting, trapping, electrofishing and physical/chemical measurements. <br />Activities during darkness were devoted to tending nets, traps, elec- <br />trofishing and some seining. Seasonal sampling conformed to river <br />stage. During 1981 only runoff and postrunoff river stages were sampled <br />in each of the 12 strata (4 on the Green River; 8 on the Yampa River). <br />Standardized sampling schedules and procedures were closely adhered to; <br />however, weather conditions, manpower shortages, and equipment failures <br />at times dictated minor changes in schedules and sampling procedures. <br />Sample sites were precisely located on topographic maps. Sketches <br />of habitat locations within each 0.5 mi (0.8 km) station were made <br />according to the categories listed in Table 2. <br />Three cross section depth profiles were recorded in feet at each <br />0.5 mi (0.8 km) station using a sonic depth recorder. Depth profiles in <br />feet were recorded at each end of the 0.5 mi (0.8 km) station and at the <br />midpoint of the section. Water quality measurements were taken at each <br />station. These included dissolved oxygen (DO), turbidity, air and water <br />temperatures, salinity and conductivity. Such variable parameters as <br />temperature and DO were taken between 1000 and 1400 hours for standard- <br />ization. <br />Five survey stations were also established on the Yampa for the <br />purpose of modeling hydraulic and physical habitat conditions in repre- <br />sentative reaches of the Yampa to these general physical habitat surveys <br />(Appendix A). <br />An effort was made to collect fish from every habitat present in a <br />sample station. The habitat from which fish were collected was described <br />by a series of depth, velocity and substrate measurements. Bottom <br />substrates were classified according to the following: <br />Silt <br />Sand <br />Gravel <br />Rubble <br />Boulder <br />Bedrock <br />fine gritty material <br />less than 3 mm diameter <br />3 mm to 76 mm <br />76 mm to 305 mm <br />305 mm and larger <br />rock outcropping <br />8