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DISCUSSION The species relative abundance for the escapement study was notably different for smallmouth bass escaping the reservoir in comparison with reservoir relative abundance. Relative abundance collected in 1999 showed that 15% of the fish captured were smallmouth bass in the reservoir by CDOW collections. In 2001, smallmouth bass comprised 45% of the relative abundance of species collected in the reservoir. Black crappie made up 54% of the relative abundance in 1999 and 29% of relative abundance in 2001 in the reservoir (Tables 6 and 7). This compares with 78% relative abundance in the 2003 escapement study and 45.9% escapement in 2004 (Table 3). Bluegill made up 8% of the relative abundance in 1999 in the reservoir (Table 6) and 15% of the relative abundance in 2001 (Table 7). Relative abundance of bluegill in escapement was 16% in 2003 and 47.6% in 2004. It appears that the small bluegill and crappie maybe leaving the reservoir at higher rates due to the fact that they are caught in the high velocities before they can react to those and swim to areas of low velocities and safe habitat. It has been noted by others that fish in low velocities tend to stay in those, especially in reservoir and lake situations, and will avoid areas of higher velocities (Bell 1991). Table 6. Species relative abundance in Elkhead Reservoir 1999 (CDOW 1999). S ecies Number collected Percent abundance White sucker 42 15% Smallmouth bass 42 15% Blue ill 22 8% Northern ike 3 1 Largemouth bass 15 5% Black cra ie 151 54% Channel catfish 3 1% Total 278 100% Table 7. Elkhead Reservoirs' species relative abundance 2001 (Miller Ecologica12004). S i Elkhead Reservoir-2001 pec es Number Relative abundance White sucker 11 3.1 Flannelmouth sucker 1 0.3 Northern ike 1 0.3 Channel catfish 6 1.7 Blue ill 52 14.9 Smallmouth bass 159 45.4 Lar emouth bass 17 4.9 Black cra ie 103 29.4 FINAL REPORT -Elkhead Reservoir Escapement, Project No.: ll8 Page l6 Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. May 20, 2005