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<br />METHODS <br /> <br />The project consisted of radio tracking implanted fish to determine the location within a <br />reach of river, habitat use, and movement by those fish. Five adult Colorado squawfish, <br />five adult channel catfish, and five adult northern pike were opportunistically implanted <br />with radio transmitters in a cooperative effort by personnel from Miller Ecological <br />Consultants and the Colorado Division of Wildlife (Table I), Four Colorado squawfish <br />and three northern pike were collected by angling, all other fish were collected by electro- <br />fishing, Radio transmitters were implanted using procedures developed by the USFWS. <br />Fish were anesthetized with MS-222 and transmitters were surgically implanted into the <br />gut cavity, Fish were observed in a recovery tank for a minimum of ten minutes. When <br />fully recovered, they were released back into the habitat from which they were captured. <br /> <br />Radio tracking was conducted on a biweekly basis between July 22, 1996 and October <br />26, 1996. Observations were made on five consecutive days each week that tracking was <br />conducted. An attempt was made to locate each fish at least one time during each <br />observation week, After a fish was located it was monitored for a minimum of 30 <br />minutes (Colorado squawfish were monitored for a minimum of one hour), During this <br />time a variety of habitat usage data were collected including; date, time of day, weather <br />conditions, water and ambient air temperature, time monitored, sketch of the surrounding <br />habitat including fish locations, and any notes on movement during the observation <br />period. Other physical habitat data that were collected whenever possible at each fish <br />location included total water depth, water velocity (mean column and bottom), substrate <br />type, proximity to cover, description of cover at the location, general description of the <br />site; measurements of the habitat type including length, width, bank features, shoreline <br />vegetation, dominant substrate and cover for the habitat type. Discharge was obtained <br />from the USGS gaging station near Maybell, Colorado. <br /> <br />The 24-hour observations began during week 5 (the first week after all Colorado <br />squawfish had been captured and implanted) and continued weekly until the end of the <br />study. One Colorado squawfish was chosen for a 24-hour continuous observation during <br />each observation week, The fish chosen for the 24 hour observation was located and <br />observed for movement approximately every hour except for some short periods when <br />weather interfered. All observed activity and movement by fish during this time was <br />recorded, <br /> <br />Yampa River Radio Telemetry Report <br />Miller Ecological Consultants, Inc, <br /> <br />Page 2 <br />January 23, ] 997 <br />