GAME AND FISH DEPARTMENT INTRA-OFFICE MEMO

TO: Francisco Abarca, Native Fish Biologist **AA FROM: atthew Brown, sistant Native Fish Biologist

SUBJECT: Little spinedace surveys

DATE: July 29, 1991

This memo summarizes the results of spinedace surveys conducted July 23 - 26, 1991. This trip completed sampling needed for the Coconino NF spinedace report. Lower has not been sampled. The following abbreviations were used on datasheets:

DKW = Dale Ward MRB = Matt Brown JJR = Jeff Rayner

Little Colorado River spinedace were not seen at any of the sites.

Roundtail chubs were collected at two sites.

Rainbow trout reproduced this year in Barbershop Canyon.

Little Colorado River suckers (Catostomus species, CASP) in Lower appear to be of two types, neither of which resemble the syntopic bluehead mountain sucker (Pantosteus discobolus discobolus, PADI) nor the CASP X PADI hybrids we have previously caught at the same location. Neither type has the overall mouth shape, the highly modified upper lip nor the sharp indentation between upper and lower lip typical of the Pantosteus subgenus. The first type, which is typical of CASP found in our previous sampling in the East Clear Creek and Upper Chevelon Creek, tends to be sharply bicolored, tan to orange-brown above and cream to white below. The second type of CASP is not sharply bicolored and it tends to be grey above and white below. The second type of CASP has fleshier lower lips with papillae arranged in medial rows, instead of papillae arranged in the honeycomb-like configuration seen in other CASP. The first type has larger scales than the second type. Closer examination of the specimens, once they have been transferred from formalin to alcohol, may reveal further differences.

East Clear Creek at Hacks Crossing- 251 speckled dace, 19 fathead minnows, 3 bluehead mountain suckers, 1 rainbow trout and 1 Little Colorado River sucker were backpack electroshocked. Speckled dace were extremely abundant. Overall, there were many more fish at this site than last fall. •

Barbershop Creek near Confluence with Dane Canyon- 2.5 miles of Barbershop Creek was surveyed. Sampling included all the waters present during last falls aerial survey. Abundant speckled dace, moderate numbers of rainbow trout, and a few bluehead mountain suckers were present. Reproduction was evident for all three species. The larger individuals of all three species were found in the upper portion of this reach, while juveniles of all three species were only found further downstream below the confluence with Dane Canyon. Chevelon Creek 4.2 river miles downstream of Points of Wildcat Gaging Station- Fathead minnows were abundant, while golden shiners were rare. Thousands of these minnows, including their fry, were sampled by backpack electroshocker and 3 meter seine. Two roundtail chubs (99 and 128 mm total length) were seined. A number of fry were collected which appeared to be roundtail chubs. A Little Colorado River sucker and a bluehead mountain sucker were also caught. No salmonids were seen. Water temperature was 24° C, with scattered showers on the day we sampled. Chevelon Creek at Points of Wildcat Gaging Station was sampled with 4 meter seine, experimental gill net, minnow trap and backpack electroshocker. This is the site where we caught roundtail chub on June 20, 1991. 9 juvenile roundtail chubs (25 - 124 mm total length) and a number of smaller chubs were seined. Thousands of fathead minnows, hundreds of golden shiners, two speckled dace and one Little Colorado River sucker were also seined. 53 large (333.4 mm = average total length, 241 - 405 mm range) Little Colorado River suckers and 5 roundtail chubs (225, 225, 226, 226 and 250 mm total length) were caught in the experimental gill net. Three of the chubs were in breeding colors. No attempt was made to express gametes. A large rainbow trout was gill netted and another was found dead on the shore when we arrived. Water temperature was 24° C, with scattered showers on both days we sampled. MRB:mb cc: Bruce Palmer