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<br />. <br />. <br /> <br />2. develop habitat-management procedures and protocols that can <br />be used elsewhere in the upper basin, and <br /> <br />3. produce a habitat management manual. <br /> <br />Facilities created by the project will be' valuable for testing and <br />demonstrating management strategies, particularly those related to <br />recommended spring flows. <br /> <br />Methods <br />Procedures utilizing calibrated stage recorders and elevation <br />surveys are being used to determine flows necessary to flood <br />wetlands in the Ouray area. Supervision of this work is being <br />provided to the Vernal Field Station by hydrologists Bob Green, and <br />George Smith, USFWS, Denver, CO. The BOR will be requested to <br />provide test flows in spring 1992 and 1993. Pilot studies were <br />conducted in 1991 to compare food abundance and razorback growth in <br />various wetland and backwater types under present flow regimes and <br />refuge management procedures. Fish use patterns at proposed wetland <br />sites are also being monitored and past collection data are being <br />summarized. <br /> <br />Surveying of the development site will be completed during the <br />Spring 1992 to determine the amount of excavation required to ensure <br />proper design and drainage of the site. Preliminary design and <br />function of site have been approved by the refuge manager. (Gary <br />Montoya, USFWS, Vernal, UT.). Engineering (USFWS) has received and <br />approved an action plan describing the project and assigned an <br />engineer to design the project. Section 7. Section 404 and <br />environmental assessment permits and reports will be submitted in <br />Spring 1992 so construction can begin in fall 1992 and be complete <br />by November 1992. <br /> <br />A large section of Old Charlie Wash wetland will naturally interact <br />with the river. Other portions will be remain separate and water <br />level and fish access controlled by dikes and pumping. This will <br />allow use of controlled portions for experiments and another portion <br />will prOVide extended habitat for various birds that have <br />established at the site. Potential of the site to produce food for <br />razorback and effects of predation can be studied under controlled <br />conditions. Based on response of fish to these restoration efforts <br />and results of experimental studies further restoration will be <br />recoRlDended <br /> <br />Rationale <br />Seasonally flooded wetlands have become increasingly rare in the <br />Green River system due to a combination of changing hydrograph, <br />vegetation encroachment and man's activities. Various researchers <br />have hypothesized that the loss of these seasonally flooded wetlands <br />has resulted in decreased reproduction and recruitment of endangered <br />fi shes. The recreation of seasonally f1 ooded areas such as 01 d <br />Charley Wash provides opportunities to test hypotheses concerning <br /> <br />Flaming Gorge Studies <br /> <br />32 <br />