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<br />restored because of human alterations and the river system is rapidly approaching <br />a new state such that the future of river bars and floodplain terraces is <br />unclear. Restoration of large river ecosystems must be done with full <br />consideration of the river continuum and flood pulse concepts (Walker et al. <br />1995). Walker et al. emphasize that the greatest conflict occurs between the <br />supp 1 y and demand of water from dryl and ri ver systems and bel i eve that the <br />integrity of large dryland rivers will be maintained only if users use water that <br />is surplus to maintenance needs of the riverine ecosystem. In addition, site- <br />specific restoration will not restore the ecological integrity of large rivers. <br />For example, Theiling (1995) believed a larger ecosystem approach would be <br />required rather thansite-specific efforts to restore the Mississippi River <br />ecosystem. <br /> <br />Although the precise physical, biological, and chemical conditions of flooded <br />bottomlands needed as nursery areas for endangered fishes have not been <br />documented, application of the match-mismatch principle provides some insight <br />into environmental conditions that would be beneficial to razorback suckers <br />(Table 3). <br /> <br />The river elevation to provide an adequate frequency of inundation of bottomland <br />habitats is considered to be 1 in 5 years (Table 3). However, long-lived fish <br />species such as the endangered Colorado River fishes may only require inundation <br />of floodplains in lout of 10 years to maintain self-sustaining populations. <br />Strong year-classes occurred in the endangered fishes, probably as a life history <br />strategy that evolved with a dynamic, highly fluctuating river environment. <br />Captive-reared fish that are released into the river should be a minimum of 100 <br />mm (4 inches) in total length (Table 3) to escape the majority of predation by <br />nonnative fishes. A razorback sucker that is 100 mm TL would be able to escape <br />the high predation that is likely occurring on larvae by the nonnative minnows, <br />green sunfish (Leoomis cyanellus), juvenile smallmouth bass (Microoterus <br />dolomieui), and juvenile largemouth bass (Microoterus salmoides). Carp (Cyorinus <br />caroio) activity will increase turbidity in floodplain habitats that will <br />decrease light penetration, adversely affecting plankton production and the food <br />web. Carp were observed to occupy and feed on the rocky shorel ines of Lake <br />Mohave where they were suspected to feed (i.e., prey) on the eggs and emerging <br />larvae of razorback suckers (T. Burke, 1994, Personal Communication). These <br />nonnative fishes were considered to be the most likely to adversely impact larval <br />and juvenile razorback suckers in flooded bottomland habitats (Nelson et al. <br />1995). <br /> <br />Many of the bottoml and habitats flooded ephemerally under hi stori c ri veri ne <br />conditions. For example, a streamflow of 15,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) was <br />estimated for overbank flooding at Escalante Ranch in the middle Green River <br />(Cooper and Severn 1994b). That streamflow occurred 33 times during a 47-year <br />period of record (1947-1993). The Escalante Ranch site was inundated 19 times <br />by streamflows of 15,000 cfs between 1965 and 1993. The duration of inundation <br />of the Escalante Ranch wetland occurred for 25 days only 13 times in the 47-year <br />period of record. Cooper and Severn (1994d) estimated that streamflows between <br />17,000 and 20,000 cfs were required to inundate the floodplain along the middle <br />Green River on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. A streamflow of 20,000 cfs <br />occurred 17 times during the 47-year period of record (1946-1993) but only 7 <br />times since the completion of Flaming Gorge Dam in 1964 (29 years). This <br /> <br />13 <br />