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<br />~t <br /> <br />'.' <br /> <br />.~ <br /> <br />Fishery <br /> <br />Early in the planning stages of developing environmental studies below Glen <br />Canyon Dam, the '''Lee's Ferry Fishery" was singled out as a resource that <br />warranted special attention. <br /> <br />The biological subteam recommended that the Fish and Wildlife Service's Instream <br />Flow Methodology be applied to this 15-mi1e section of the Colorado River. This <br />methodology can predict available fish habitat at varying flow increments (i.e., <br />5,000 cfs., 15,000 cfs., 40,000 cfs., etc.). Specifically, the amount of usable <br />fish habitat can be expressed as a function of velocity, depth, and substrate <br />(compOsition of streambed). <br /> <br />Eleven cross-sections were selected in a study reach located approximately 5 <br />miles below Glen Canyon Dam. Each cross-section was selected to predict specific <br />habitat types. At three different flows, each one of the cross-sections was <br />surveyed for overall depth, water velocity, and bottom substrate. Since we are <br />predicting fish habitat over a wide spectrum of available flow (1,000 to 40,000 <br />cfs.), we correspondingly selected representative flows for our study. Recently, <br />the last set of measurements was taken at a flow of approximately 26,000 cfs. <br />The other two measurements were taken earlier this year at 2,000 and 16,000 cfs. <br /> <br />Although existing fish habitat data are available for velocities, depths, and <br />substrate, we are supplementing these data with our own study designed to ,develop <br />fish preferences for this specific habitat area. Through the use of divers and <br />surface observation, we will be able to predict the probability of finding a <br />specific fish species at a given combination of these hydraulic criteria. <br /> <br />We anticipate that this study will be completed by early 1981. At that time, <br />possible impacts to this important fishery resource could be quantified and used <br />in selecting a size. <br />