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• provided the capability to quickly calculate WUA for a time series of <br />monthly discharges without running the HABTAT program with its high <br />associated computer cost. <br />WUA vs. Ascending Flow <br />The WUA vs. flow graphs presented here are primarily for use <br />in describing general relationships and cover only one life history stage <br />of two species. They are best interpreted as indicators of general flow <br />ranges, i.e., as aids in determining whether low, medium, or high regime <br />discharges are most suitable for a life history stage. They should serve <br />as tools in the development of flow recommendations, not as sources of <br />inviolable "minimum" flow requirements. <br />Green River <br />The two sand-substrate reaches, Mineral Bottom and Ouray refuge <br />provided dramatically higher WUA for YOY squawfish than did the Gray's <br />Canyon reach (Figures 6 through 8). Mineral Bottom and Ouray were quite <br />consistent in offering high WUA in the 2000-3000 cfs range both for <br />squawfish YOY. The Gray's Canyon reach, probably because of its large <br />substrate and severe velocity conditions offered far less habitat, most <br />of which was probably around the edges of the wetted area. <br />The selection of a site below a major rapids was influenced <br />strongly by access and measurability. The more distinctive Gray's Canyon <br />aquatic habitats were the deep, rather slow reaches where steep cliffs <br />bordered one channel margin and broad sandbars the other. Measurement of <br />such a site (several of which are accesible below Rattlesnake Rapids) is <br />suggested as a valuable addition to the current sites. <br />Colorado River <br />As on the Green River, two Colorado River sites (Black Rocks and <br />Potash) provided good WUA for Colorado squawfish YOY while the Moab site <br />had significant WUA only for a limited range of low flows (Figures 9 <br />through 11). The Black Rocks reach gained in adult humpback chub habitat <br />as flow increased, probably because of the large secondary channel area <br />which became inundated at higher flows. The same effect was probably <br />true for squawfish YOY, in this case resulting in two peaks of WUA. <br />At Potash, a similar bimodal relationship was apparent; this condi- <br />tion has been noted in other large rivers in the basin and probably <br />resulted from the stepped cross-sectional configuration and the estab- <br />lishment of two distinct habitats and different flow levels. <br />The Moab reach, because of its simple, incised channel characteris- <br />tics, provided little shallow, slow water and subsequently, very little <br />YOY habitat. The center channel areas were of uniformly high velocity, <br />however, and provided good adult habitat only at very low flows. <br />• <br />15