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Green River Basin Wetland Sampling 2011 A Great Year to be a Razorback!. Aaron Webber US Fish and Wildlife Service and Kevin Bestgen Colorado State University. 2011 Highlights. White River - Larval Razorback sucker documented - First time ever! (Project 22f)
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Green River Basin Wetland Sampling 2011A Great Year to be a Razorback! Aaron Webber US Fish and Wildlife Service and Kevin Bestgen Colorado State University
2011 Highlights White River - Larval Razorback sucker documented - First time ever! (Project 22f) Green River - Juvenile Razorback sucker documented in wetlands - First time since 1996. (Project C-6 Baeser)
Flaming Gorge Res. Elkhead Ck. & Res. Craig Yampa River Jensen Duchesne River Ouray White River Rangely Green River WYO Price River UT CO
White River, Utah Many razorback sucker found during pikeminnow estimate including expressing and tuberculated fish (not seen in White River before) This finding prompted us to look for larval razorback sucker through light trapping Very limited backwater or wetland habitat in White River
White River Light Trapping June 2011 • 5 locations sampled in lower 24 miles • Razorback sucker larvae found in at least 3-still waiting for CSU LFL verification • 4 of the locations dried up by late summer
Backwater site on White River June 2011 July 2011 Fish Need Water!
Green River Wetland Sampling 2011 Wyasket Lake Leota Bottoms
Green River, 2011 32,200 cfs maximum flow This flow connected many wetlands that often do not connect to the Green River. Provided favorable conditions for survival of young razorback sucker.
Green River Wetland Sampling • 15 wetlands sampled • Endangered fish found in 10 wetlands • Wild Young of Year Razorback Sucker found in Leota Bottoms #4 and Wyasket Lake • 58 untagged razorback sucker captured, likely from Leota 4 stocking of fingerlings in Oct 2010 • 1 bonytail netted in Baeser Bend • Thunder Ranch wetland full of northern pike
Could the juvenile razorback sucker originate from the Hatchery?
3 mortalities sent to CSU to determine hatch date Hatchery hatch date May 5, 2011 3 fish from sample all hatched June 10-13, 2011
Razorback Capture Summary All untagged
2012 Wetland Sampling Plans(If funded) Sample Wyasket Lake and Leota 4 to document over-winter survival of young of year razorbacks Net out northern pike from Thunder Ranch Sample Johnson Bottoms to assess over-winter survival of bonytail and look for razorbacks Sample other wetlands that connect to river in 2012