Recipient name: game and fish, arizona dept ofcooperative agreement number: G25AC00468PROJECT title: status and trends of fish community downstream of glen canyon DAM 2025-2027OVERALL project…

Summary

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Research and Data Collection program (CFDA 15.808) awarded a cooperative agreement valued at $217,550 to the Arizona Department of Game and Fish, effective September 1, 2025 through August 31, 2027. This award supports the "Status and Trends of Fish Community Downstream of Glen Canyon Dam 2025-2027" project, which monitors native and nonnative fish populations in the Colorado River ecosystem between Lees Ferry and Pearce Ferry to inform the Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program (GCDAMP).

The primary deliverables include estimates of relative abundance and distribution of rainbow trout, brown trout, carp, flannelmouth sucker, and other fish species in the mainstem Colorado River; hoop net monitoring in the lower Little Colorado River conducted in coordination with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; detection of mainstem humpback chub and native species using alternative gear types; and draft and annual monitoring reports with associated data. The recipient will also conduct data synthesis and analysis activities and contribute to protocol evaluation panel efforts. These products directly support resource management decisions for the Colorado River fishery and benefit the State of Arizona, USGS, and the public through improved understanding of fish community status and trends in this critical ecosystem.

Recipient name: game and fish, arizona dept ofcooperative agreement number: G25AC00468PROJECT title: status and trends of fish community downstream of glen canyon DAM 2025-2027OVERALL project period: 09 01 2025 - 08 31 2027OVERALL budget period: 09 01 2025 - 08 31 2027AWARD purpose: the downstream fish community in grand canyon is an assemblage of native and nonnative fish that occur in the colorado river ecosystem. The status and trends of the fishery are regulated by biotic and abiotic mechanisms that may in turn be affected by the operations of glen canyon DAM. Monitoring basic population parameters including relative abundance (using catch per unit effort as an index) and distribution of native and nonnative fishes provide information necessary to assess the status of these resources and inform the glen canyon DAM adaptive management program (gcdamp).activities to be performed:the main objective is to obtain a representative sample of the fish community of the colorado river from the lees ferry reach to pearce ferry to determine the distribution and relative abundance of native and nonnative fish. Deliverables and expected outcomes:1. Estimate the relative abundance and distribution of rainbow trout, brown trout, carp, flannelmouth sucker and other fish species in the mainstem colorado river between lees ferry and pearce ferry. 2. Work with the USFWS to conduct hoop net monitoring in the lower little colorado river. 3. Detect mainstem humpback chub and other natives using alterative gear types. 4. Provide draft and annual monitoring reports and data associated with this work. 5. Work on data synthesis and analysis. 6. Contribute to any protocol evaluation panel. Intended beneficiary(IES): the state of arizona, the USGS and the public.