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The intent of the present Windy-Gap work program includes determining <br />the factors that affect the survival of Colorado squawfish and humpback <br />chub beginning after hatching from the egg and during spawning and their <br />first year of life, Knowledge of these limiting factors would then be <br />used in an attempt to increase the popula tion size of these species, <br />perhaps to the ultimate extent that the endangered species designations <br />can be removed . <br />The specific objectives of the Windy-Gap work plan are: <br />1) to locate and describe reproductive habitats for Colorado <br />squawfish and humpback chub in the Grand Junction area <br />2) to locate and quantify rearing areas for young Colorado <br />squawfish and humpback chub <br />3) to identify the major factors that affect the survival of <br />Colorado squawfish and humpback chub during the first <br />year of life <br />4) to modify river backwaters and gravel pits, in the Colorado <br />River between Debeque Canyon and the mouth of the Green River, <br />in a way that might enhance the su rvival of endangered fishes <br />5) to evaluate natural and modified river back~ters as <br />habitat for young Colorado squawfish and humpback chub, <br />and <br />6) to determine-the extent that Colorado squawfish and humpback <br />chub move within the Colorado River and its tributaries. <br />These objectives are largely interrelated and the achievement of some is <br />prerequisite to the successful completion of others. The objectives <br />consists of two major work elements; (1) movement, spawning, and rearing <br />studies (objectives 1, 2, 3, and 6), and (2) backwater and gravel pft <br />investigations (objectives 4 and 5). Although a distinction is made <br />between these work elements for the purpose of clarity, it is recognized <br />that work elements themselves are also interrelated. <br />This is the second annual report on the Windy-Gap studies being conducted <br />by FWS. Additional details on methodology and 1982 results can be found <br />in Miller et al. (1983). <br />Investigations of Colorado squawfish during 1983 were carried out in the <br />Colorado River between Palisade, Colorado and the upstream region of <br />Lake Powell, Utah; the lower 3.5 miles of the Gunnison River; the lower <br />20 miles of Yampa River; and the Green River from its confluence with <br />the Yampa downstream to the Colorado River (Figure 1). The main emphasis. <br />of tris study on the main Colorado River was a 200 mile section of river <br />which was divided into three reaches; the upper reach between Palisade, <br />Colorado and Westwater Canyon, Utah; the middle reach between Westwater <br />and Cataract canyons; and the lower reach below Cataract Canyon, which <br />consists almost entirely of waters impounded within Lake Powell (Figure <br />2) . <br />2 <br />