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<br />;)~~ <br /> <br />'I <br /> <br />fishes in backwaters (including effects on non-native fish <br />abundance/reproduction), and -effectiveness o'f ISMP (and other <br />. approaches) for measuring age-O Colorado squawfish recruitment <br />and/or relative abundance of other fishes. <br /> <br />Element 3 - Ovenrinter and Post Runoff Survival of Young Fish (age- <br />l recruitment). This element addresses hypotheses 3, 4, 5, 11, and <br />12. The primary study related to this element is "Overwinter <br />survival". Objectives for the overwinter survival study include <br />developing a method to quantify Colorado squawfish survival from <br />Age 0 (fall) through Age 1 (spring, post-runoff), monitoring of <br />overwinter movement, and determination of the effect of winter flow <br />on overwinter survival of young fish. <br /> <br />Data collected in this element would be particularly valuable for <br />evaluation of the effect of winter flow releases from Flaming Gorge <br />on young fish. In addition, it will allow for an assessment of the <br />effect of spring runoff levels on Age 1 fish. <br /> <br />Element 4 - Link Between Recruitment of Young Colorado Squawfish <br />and R.ecruitment to Adult Stocks (assessment of status of adult fish <br />stocks) . This element was intended to provide a link between <br />results of ELEMENTS 1-3 and data on adult fish stocks and will <br />integrate past and future ISMP efforts with the overall objectives <br />of the Flaming Gorge Investigations. Objectives of the study <br />"Evaluation of the link between recruitment of young Colorado <br />squawfish and recruitment of adult stocks", include review of <br />historic tagging data, investigation of the relationships between <br />first year growth and survival to adult stocks, and the <br />relationship of flow during the recruitment period to survival of <br />young fish to adult stage. <br /> <br />Data collected by this element will allow for confirmation of flow <br />recommendations based in part on ISMP data and a better evaluation <br />of the impact of different water years on recruitment of Colorado <br />squawfish to adult stages. <br /> <br />HYPOTHESIS TESTING STUDIES <br />Specific, a priori research designs are powerful tools for <br />determining cause and effect. These types of short-term studies <br />are necessary to establish the link between flow and survival of <br />native and non-native fish species, and support and refine specific <br />seasonal flow recommendation hypotheses. Proposals for hypothesis <br />testing studies are submitted on an annual basis; cooperating <br />agencies review proposals prior to field and laboratory activities <br />and assign funds to the most pertinent studies. Hypothesis Testing <br />studies will be used to support and elaborate on the Systematic <br />Data Collection Research program. These studies will assist in <br />'answering questions concerning the mechanisms by' which flows affect <br />species of interest and to refine seasonal flow recommendations. <br /> <br />AS <br />