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North Platte River Fish Survey - March 1999 Page 28 <br />8 species were captured. Juvenile and subadult longnose suckers dominated the catch <br />(66 percent), followed by emerald shiners (16 percent), and longnose dace (9 percent). A juvenile <br />black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and a juvenile bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) were also <br />captured. These were not listed as occurring in the North Platte River in this area (Baxter and <br />Stone 1995). However, they were collected and preserved for voucher specimens. A juvenile <br />and adult creek chub, a sand shiner, and a juvenile white sucker were also captured. Figure 18 is <br />the study site map and Figures 21 and 22 show the habitat and sampling activities. <br />Wendover° Canyon at Cottonwood Creek- Backpack.— A 150 -m section ofthe river was sampled <br />at the mouth of Cottonwood Creek. Substrate at this site consisted predominately of a mix of <br />boulders and cobbles with 5 percent sand. The primary habitat is main channel with secondary <br />habitat consisting of 25 percent riffles, 70 percent run, and 5 percent pool. We observed some <br />moss present on the boulders and cobbles. A total of 154 individuals from 6 species was <br />captured. Longnose dace composed most of the catch (68 percent), followed by emerald shiner <br />(21 percent). This was the furthest upstream site in which we captured Johnny darter <br />(Etheostoma nigrum) (3 percent). We also captured sand shiner (3 percent) and juvenile white <br />sucker (2.6 percent). Figure 23 is the study site map and habitat photos are in Figures 24 and 25. <br />Guernsey Dam to Laramie River Confluence. —The river below Guernsey Dam was largely <br />dewatered with only 10 cfs present. Three backpack electrofishing samples were conducted in <br />this reach. <br />Guernsey Dam Outlet at Railroad Bridge -Backpack.—This 150 -m sample site was located at <br />the railroad bridge upstream of the Highway 26 bridge just outside of the town of Guernsey. <br />Substrate at this site consisted of a mix of large to small boulders (36 percent), silt (5 percent), <br />and bedrock (33 percent). This is a main channel site with 80 percent run and 20 percent pool. <br />A total of 225 individuals of 9 species was captured. Most of the catch consisted of longnose <br />dace (83 percent). Emerald shiner (5 percent), sand shiner (3 percent), and juvenile white sucker <br />(3 percent) were the second most abundant species. Johnny darter appears at this site <br />(1.3 percent) as well as longnose sucker (1.3 percent), fathead minnow (1.3 percent), and a <br />juvenile creek chub (0.4 percent). Spottail shiner (Notropis hudsonius) (0.9 percent) appears for <br />the first time in this catch. Figure 26 is the study site map and Figures 27 and 28 show the habitat <br />and sampling activities. <br />Camp Guernsey - Backpack. — Permission from the U. S. Army was obtained to sample at this site <br />though it appeared that the public has free access into this area. The substrate in this <br />300 -m sample site was dominated by small and large cobbles (90 percent). Small boulders <br />(5 percent) and coarse gravel (5 percent) were also present. Moss was very dense, and we also <br />caught the occasional smell of sewage. We observed one longnose dace with an eroded caudal <br />fin, but saw no other evidence of disease. This is a main channel site and consists of 100 percent <br />run. This site was second only to the Fort Laramie Bridge section in numbers of individuals <br />Results <br />