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<br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />An essential part of determining of limiting factors for Colorado squawfish <br />(Ptychocheilus Lucius) in the Yampa River is the characterization of habitat requirements <br />of that species, There is limited existing information on squawfish habitat use or <br />movement in the Yampa River during the low flows which occur during late summer. <br /> <br />This study relates to the Green River Action Plan, Yampa River Elements 1,A.2., <br />I.A.4.a,(3)(a)" and 1.B.2. of identifying base flow discharge needs of endangered fishes <br />in the Yampa River. The goal of this study is to determine habitat use patterns of <br />endangered fishes in the Yampa River during the lowest flow period of the year (i.e., <br />August through October). The specific objectives of this study include: <br /> <br />· monitor movements of Colorado squawfish, northern pike and channel catfish in the <br />Yampa River during the low flow periods (August through October) <br /> <br />. to determine the range of habitats occupied during the base flow periods. <br /> <br />The specific objectives of this study were to monitor movements of Colorado squawfish <br />using radio telemetry to determine: 1) the range of movement during the low flow <br />period; 2) summer low flow habitat use; and 3) the distance Colorado squawfish moved <br />from later summer into winter. In addition, northern pike and channel catfish were also <br />radio implanted in the same locations and monitored during the monitoring of the <br />Colorado squawfish movement. <br /> <br />In addition to the determination of movement patterns, telemetry data will be used to <br />compare sites occupied by Colorado squawfish during summer flow conditions to the <br />availability of habitat during summer low flow habitat months. The availability of <br />distinct habitat types will be determined in another portion of the study which measured <br />channel cross sections and modeled hydraulics of various water levels to determine how <br />habitat changes with flow, <br /> <br />Study Area <br /> <br />The area which the radio tagged fish occupied was the reach from just downstream of <br />Signal Butte (RM 103) down to about 2 miles below Maybell bridge (RM 77) thereby <br />defining the area for this study, The radio telemetry observation data was acquired within <br />this limited reach. This area was where squawfish have been located in previous years. <br /> <br />Yampa River Radio Telemetry Report <br />Miller Ecological Consultants, lnc, <br /> <br />Page 1 <br />January 23. 1997 <br />