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<br />. <br /> <br />DRAFT <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />is the ongoing Colorado River Fisheries Project (CRFP) being conducted by the <br />u.s. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Much of the work done by FWS has served to provide information for the <br />evaluation of water development impacts, as prescribed by Section 7 of the <br />Endangered Species Act. On such evaluation is the operation of Flaming Gorge <br />Dam on the upper Green River in northeastern utah. The BOR has been in <br />consultation with FWS on the operation of this facility as information on the <br />needs of the fishes is accumulated. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Results of studies by CRFP have indicated that the operation of Flaming Gorge <br />Dam may, at certain times of the year, affect the reproduction and recruitment <br />of the endangered or native fishes in the Green River System. In satisfying <br />the requirements of Section 7, FWS and BOR have entered into an Interagency <br />Agreement to collect biological and physical information on the endangered <br />fishes that is specific to the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. The objective <br />of these studies is to obtain information to enable FWS to recommend <br />operational criteria for Flaming Gorge Dam that will insure the continued <br />survival and promote the recovery of these species. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Prior to the investigation described in this document, information on the flow <br />needs of these fishes had been collected only in the spring, summer and fall. <br />No data had been collected on flow needs and migrational or movement patterns <br />during the winter. This information is needed to complete the recommended <br />operational criteria for Flaming Gorge Dam. As in the summer months, the <br />operation of the dam in the winter may also affect the survival and recovery of <br />the species. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The purpose of this investigation is to characterize the winter habitat needs <br />of adult Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers through the use of <br />radiotelemetry and the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM). The <br />humpback chub and bony tail chub are not included in this study. The bony tail <br />is extremely rare in the upper Colorado River basin, to the extent that <br />information on this species cannot be readily collected. The humpback chub has <br />been excluded because the species is non-migratory and restricted to canyon <br />habi tats that may not be as greatly affected by flow changes as are other <br />riverine habitats. This investigation was conducted during two continuous <br />winters; year 1 was the winter of 1986-87 and year 2 was the winter of 1987- <br />88. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />. <br />