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<br />3.) Remove nonnative fish species which prey upon and compete with native fish species in <br />the San Juan River. <br /> <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br />I <br /> <br />continue to be done on adult monitoring trips. The study design for adult monitoring is based <br />upon the criteria for long..term monitoring of the San Juan River main channel fish community. <br />These criteria were accepted as final by the San Juan River Biology Committee on 31 March <br />2000. <br /> <br />Description of Studv Are~,: <br /> <br />The study area for adult monitoring extends from river mile (RM) 180.0 (Animas River <br />confluence) in Farmington, New Mexico, downstream to RM 2.9 (Clay Hills Landing) just above <br />Lake Powell in Utah. The entire reach of river from RM 180.0 to RM 2.9 will be sampled in the <br />fall of every year (sampling to begin in the second to third week of September). <br /> <br />Obiectives: <br /> <br />L) Monitor the San Juan River's main channel fish community, specifically the large-bodied <br />fish species, to identifY Hhifts in fish community structure, species abundance and distribution, <br />and length/weight frequencies that are occurring corresponding to management actions that are <br />being implemented by the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program. These include (but <br />may not be limited to) tht: following: <br />a) reoperation of water releases from Navajo Reservoir <br />b) mechanical removal of nonnative fishes <br />c) modification or removal of instream water diversion structures <br />d) augmentation efforts for both federally-listed endangered fish species - Colorado <br />pikeminnow and razorback sucker <br /> <br />2.) Monitor populati.on trends (e.g., distribution and abundance, habitat use, spawning and <br />staging areas, growth rates, recruitment) of the rare San Juan River fish species - Colorado <br />pikeminnow, razorback sucker, and roundtail chub (both wild and stocked fish). <br /> <br />Methods: <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br /> <br />Objectives 1-3: One adult monitoring trip will take place in fall 2005. This trip will sample from <br />the Animas River confluence in New Mexico (RM 180.0) to Clay Hills Landing in Utah (RM <br />2.9). Electrofishing will be the primary sampling technique, although seining and trammel <br />netting may also be employed. <br /> <br />Two oar-powered rafts, 'ovith one netter each, will electro fish in a continuous downstream fashion, <br />with one raft on each shoreline. No outboard motors will be used. Sampling crews will consist <br />of approximately 8-9 people (4 for electrofishing, 2 for baggage rafts, and 2-3 for other research <br />elements that are being done simultaneously with our sampling). Electrofishing will sample two <br />out of every three miles (approximately 120 total sampled miles). All fish collected will be <br />enumerated by species md life stage every sampled mile. Every fifth sampled mile (known as a <br />"designated mile" or DM), all fish collected will be weighed and measured. All native fish <br />collected will be returned alive to the river. All nonnative fish collected will be removed from the <br />river. All nonnative pr,~datory fishes (i.e. - walleye. striped bass, largemouth bass. smallmouth <br />bass) collected will be weighed, measured, and have stomach contents taken, before being <br />removed from the river. Tag numbers, total length, and weight will be recorded on all recaptured, <br />FLOY - tagged fish (both native and nonnative), as well as any rare fish collected. Colorado <br />