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-~ ~ ~ ~ 14 <br />~. ~ ' , ~ .. COLORADO S~UAWFISH <br />Karl Seethaler ~~~~ <br />Our study was undertaken because of the endangered status of <br />these fish. The emphasis has been on the Yampa River. There were <br />several reasons far doing this. One of these reasons was that we <br />have had some previous experience with the Echo Park area through work <br />done by Holden and by Vanicek. Another reason was that we had thought <br />that this likely represented the healthiest population of these fish <br />within the upper Colorado River system. Subsequent observation has <br />led us to conclude that this probably isn't so; that the popu]ations <br />around Grand Junction are likely in better shape. Yet there are still <br />good reasons for choosing the Yampa. This remains the last major <br />tributary of the entire Colorado River system without a dam. Further, <br />the Yampa does play a significant role in the repr°oductive efforts of <br />these species. During the summer, the Colorado squawfish(Ptychocheilus <br />Lucius) migrates into this river from somewhere within the Green River. <br />This is the time of year that they do their spawning. Since the <br />closing of the Falming Gorge dam, the Green River above Echo Park no <br />longer provides suitable habitat for tf~is species. While we know that <br />the squaivfish is still capable of surviving as individuals within the <br />Yampa, it is important to knotiv vri~ether they can still make it as a <br />species there.. Are they able to successfully reproduce? For if the <br />Yampa goes, there can be no question that there will be a severe impact <br />upon the remaining population within the Upper Green River. <br />Our objectives have been: <br />1. Delineate spawning areas. <br />2. Describe ecological parameters related to reproductive <br />success. <br />