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I. In addition to the determination of movement patterns, telemetry data will be used to compare sites occupied by Colorado squawfish during summer conditions to the availability of habitat during the summer low flow months. The study will consist of radio tracking implanted fish to determine both the location within a reach of river and the habitat use by those fish. The radio tracking will be conducted for five consecutive days during every field week for the duration of the study. Field Work - General Approach Aerial Surveys. Implanted fish upstream of Cross Mountain Canyon will be monitored by aircraft to determine river mile location as needed throughout the study. This will be no more frequent than one flight per field week. The flight will be scheduled out of Craig, Colorado and tracking will occur on the first day of the 'scheduled field week. Daily observations. An observation schedule will be completed before field data collection begins. Observations will be made everyday of a scheduled observation week. A random selection process will be used to determine which fish will be observed on each day. Those fish will be located and tracked for a two hour period. Other radio implanted fish in the general area of the randomly selected fish will be monitored after initial observations on the selected fish. Any locations where the fish spend more than 30 minutes will be marked, and later measured for habitat variables. The habitat usage data will include a sketch of the habitat where the fish is located with the position of the fish marked on the map. The data collected at the fish location will include date, time of day, weather conditions, time spent at each location, and any notes on movement during the observation period. The habitat data collected at each fish location will include total water depth, water velocity (mean column and bottom), substrate type, proximity to cover, description of cover at the location, general description of the site, measurements of the habitat type including length, width, bank features, shoreline vegetation, dominant substrate and cover for the habitat type. Other parameters measured will include water and ambient temperature. Discharge will be obtained from the nearest USGS gaging station. Further, each riffle between occupied habitats that the fish passed will be measured for the following characteristics: Total water width, length of riffle area, depth profile from water edge to water edge at the shallowest portion of the riffle. Fish locations will be given to CDOW personnel conducting the transect measurements so habitat characteristics in areas used by Colorado squawfish can be modeled. Data Analysis All observation data sheets will be entered into microcomputer for summary analysis. Data will be entered after each weekly observation period. The data will be analyzed using a microcomputer statistical package. Procedures will include descriptive statistics of each Yampa River Radio Telemetry Report Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc. Page 51 January 23, 1997