WSP05499

• File Number: 8200.766
• Description: Gunnison River General
• State: CO
• Basin: Gunnison
• Water Division: 4
• Date: 4/1/1997
• Author: Mueller and Hiebert
• Title: Assessment of Kokanee Salmon Transport through Blue Mesa Powerplant - Colorado - During the Spring and Summer of 1994-1996
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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:"'l!' ~ ' 15

V~~~i~a! D:s:ributicr.. The maJority of fish detected duri~9 the Jur.e
survey were :ou~d within 5 meters of the surface (Figures 23, l~, and
15). Not bei~g :~enmally stressed, fish were feeding in the mOre
productive surface waters. However. as the reservoir warmed and
became stratified. adult kokanee were fo~~d concentrated at cooler
depths. By August, adult kokanee were restricted to depths between 15
and 25 meters and by October they had retreated still deeper, the
majority being fo~~d between depths of 20 and 30 meters. Intake
Surve~'. A comparison of dlel fish distribution in front of the intake
revealed a marked difference in vertical distribution and schooling
behavior between daylight and night hours (Figure 16). During the

Diel Fish Distribution
Blue Mesa Intake Tower
!l Aug, 1995 July 8, 1996 July 9, 1996
co
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on
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0.-% -100 0-%-100
ffilDay _Night

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:m

Figure 16. Comparison of daylight and night fish
distribution (\fish detect/5 m strata) in the intake
channel at Blue Mesa Dam, 1995 and 1996.

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