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<br />The second method will incorporate radiotelemetry to follow movements <br />of sub-adult and adult Colorado squawfish captured in the 15-mile reach <br />and implanted with LOTEK@ radio transmitters. A land-based tracking <br />station and data logger that constantly monitors and records radio <br />signals from tagged fish in the immediate vicinity will be deployed <br />near the GVIC Diversion Dam. The data logger will provide continuous <br />information on the movement of fish immediately downstream and <br />immediately upstream of the diversion dam. Therefore, this technology <br />will allow researchers to determine when a radiotagged Colorado <br />squawfish passed either up- or downstream past the diversion dam. This <br />automated tracking system is currently being used to evaluate use of <br />the fish passageway by radiotagged, adult Colorado squawfish at the <br />Redlands Diversion Dam on the Gunnison River. Movements of fish will <br />also be monitored by boat, between Price Stubb and GVIC diversions and <br />downstream from GVIC to the Lorna boat landing. If radiotagged fish <br />cannot be located, searches may extend into the 2.3 miles of the Lower <br />Gunnison River upstream to the Redlands Diversion Dam, downstream from <br />the Lorna boat landing to Westwater Wash, Utah, (river mile 124.8), the <br />head of Westwater Canyon, and along the GVIC canal system. <br /> <br />Similar techniques were .used to evaluate up- and downstream fish <br />movement following the construction of a grade-control structure by the <br />City of Craig, Colorado, on the Yampa River (Masslich 1993). However. <br />the study design proposed for GVIC varies slightly from the one used at <br />the Craig grade-control structure. <br /> <br />A more direct but less preferable means of determining if fish move <br />over the GVIC Diversion Dam would be to have an observer on-site to <br />record upstream movement through the notch. However, this method would <br />be impractical because it would be time consuming and would require <br />extensive observation to note if fish were moving through the notch. <br />Moreover, given that the water clarity is often poor, it would also be <br />difficult to determine what species were moving through the notch. <br />Direct observation might be used on a limited basis if the other <br />planned evaluation techniques are not successful. <br /> <br />Sufficient preliminary data may be obtained during the first year of <br />this evaluation to determine if this passageway design would be <br />appropriate to pass native fish at other instream barriers in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin, e. g., Tusher Wash on the Green River and <br />Hartland Diversion Dam on the Gunnison River. If the first year's <br />preliminary data from GVIC indicate that this design successfully <br />passes native fish, proceeding with the design and construction of <br />passage at these other sites could 'be recommended. This would allow <br />current schedules identified by the RIPRAP for completion of fish <br />passageways at these other sites to be met. <br /> <br />VII. Task Description and Schedule <br /> <br />Description <br /> <br />Task 1. Capture sub-adult and adult Colorado squawfish with <br />electrofishing and implant with radio transmitters. <br /> <br />6 <br />