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Show 4 1 Vernal Bftrett Fndoy, May 31, loss MY HUSBAND SA'S THAT THE ONLY, -U laJL. efAKJrIMf l 1 5 n i X f f 4 at , ; mt 226 SENIORS prepare for commencement the potential graduates under blankets to keep ceremonies, which are planned to be outside in warm during the Thursday practice, the UHS football field. Cold weather put many of Years of research go into squawfish study Six years of study by wildlife agencies agen-cies in Colorado and Utah have uncovered un-covered that the endangered Colorado Col-orado squawfish is indeed an unusual fish. The studies of the squawfish have led investigators over 150 miles of the Green River and tributaries following follow-ing the electronic "beeps" from radio transmitters implanted in the fishes' bellies. They have found that the squawfish in the Green River travel as far as 50 miles to spawn, one of the longest migrations for a freshwater fish. Some squawfish spawn north in the Yampa River and others go south to spawn in the Gray Canyon near Green River, Utah. The squawfish get up to three feet in length. Most species of the fish spawn in the spring, but scientists have found that squawfish spawn in late summer when the peak runoff has passed and the water is warmer. They lay their eggs in the Whitewater areas and the fry (young fish) are quickly washed downstream into shallow backwater areas where they spend the fall, winter and spring. The next year's runoff floods those areas and washes the fry back into the river where they begin the cycle anew. There has been little or no production produc-tion of young squawfish the last two years because wet weather has forced forc-ed the Bureau of Reclamation to release abnormally large amounts of water from Flaming Gorge Dam during dur-ing the fall. These high flows have swollen the Green River and flooded the backwater areas normally used by the young fish. Tom Mitchell, Bureau of Reclamation, Reclama-tion, said his agency will attempt this fall to reduce iu releases from naming nam-ing Gorge to a level comparable to 13110 and 1381 the years In which biologists noted the most breeding success. A native species that once was found through the entire Colorado River system, the squawfish Is perfectly adapted to muddy water Vernal Express (USPS 6560 8000) SU 00p ytaf io'ao'd J20 00ff f (hA of 0'9 by Vftnol f tp'ttl Pkb't"3 CvWf, it NH Vral Av, VI, !. U'ofc U07I. PCi'VAjTH IW odd'tu j Vf . NAUmtSS. fO la tC!0, Val h I W9r;tt , 1'fHi Mrt ,,,. l$ 0- V i , . M, CW9 Pt'M Ur.f C51 ,..., - . , ,,,, .H.X )-" ..vie, ytu-jii V i ....... O f I 3iJ CtWw, ti JtS t-..a t iff 5? S jJ t-r m wsH'iJia! t fM.JiS) I- r Wfr fi, r;Ji.;s C- -i hf4 trfA, t3 -1" V Tl I I l" . Hrf jTf A,-w 1 VX t and occasional flooding. The pioneers, who called them "white salmon" consumed the fish which were said to be six feet long. Researchers Resear-chers believe some of these huge fish could have been as old as 100 years. The decline of the squawfish is blamed mostly on the construction of more than 20 dams which have blocked block-ed squawfish migration through the river system. Competition with exotic ex-otic species of game fish that have been planted in the river also contributed con-tributed to the decline. Squawfish have disappeared from more than 70 percent of their original range and the fish caught today are only half the size of the fish reported by early settlers. The last stronghold of the squawfish is the Green River basin, extending from the confluence of the Green and Colorado rivers upstream into the White and Yampa rivers. The federal mandate to preserve the endangered squawfish has raised concerns about dams which have been proposed on the White River in Utah and the Yampa River in Colorado. Col-orado. Construction of the White River dam south of Vernal was deferred due to the failure of the development of oil shale. Before the decline in activity, ac-tivity, the Fish and Wildlife Service concluded the dam could be built without jeopardizing the squawfish If enough water of the proper temperature was released and a "fish ladder' was built to allow migrating squawfish to move past the dam. Experts still are not certain whether the Colorado squawfish would use such a ladder. None of the research has shown a significant spawning area in the White River. It appears that when adults In the river want to spawn they swim to the Green River and then travel north to the Yampa or south to Gray Canyon. Most of the damage to squawfish In the White River has already occurred occur-red due to the construction of a dam further upstream In Colorado which blocked the migration of large adults In the upper reaches of the river. More seritHis problem are ex-fjeeled ex-fjeeled If water dcvclnprrs ever Eft terious about building a tbm on the Yampa at JuniprrCroM Mountain tile in north extern Color add. BETIAEEM HfM AND' WATCH IN ' 2 citations in separate motorcycle accidents Two citations were issued recently by Vernal City Police following two motorcycle accidents both resulting in minor injuries to the drivers. Saturday, May 25, a motorcycle-truck motorcycle-truck accident occurred at the intersection in-tersection of 100 South and West Highway 40. Val Spruell, 18, was making a left turn on a motorcycle onto the highway from 100 South when he ran into a pickup truck making a left turn into the 7-11 parking lot. The motorcycle motor-cycle hit the right rear portion of the truck. Spruell was cited for improper left turn, and the driver of the pickup, Kevin Partin, 19, was cited for driving driv-ing under the influence of alcohol. Officer Of-ficer Jim Taufer, Vernal City Police, investigated the accident. The accident occurred at about 11 p.m. Another accident involving a motorcycle occurred at about 500 West Main. A vehicle driven by a 16-year-old juvenile was stopped at the intersection waiting for two pedestrians when a motorcycle driven by Darin Morrill, 19, of Vernal ran into the backend of the vehicle. Morrill was cited for following too close. Officer Dave Grays investigated in-vestigated the accident. Blood mobile to be here by Tuesday The Red Cross Blood Mobile will be in Vernal Tuesday, June 4 from S pm.to7p m. The day of the week for the Vernal drawing has been changed from Monday to Tuesday, because the blood mobile has started tcrvinf Rangfly on Mondavi, Vernal on Tursday, and llotmcvelt oo Wednesdays. "There U never an over-tuppty of blond," said Neil Derts, blood drive thairman "It is a national rrMmrtt that benefits everyone." I ... f ' ',' ' I t " i '' O," "' ' ' '' I - - ( . . 1 1 V i . ; "... "j " . s w - I: ,v. f J 1 17-YEAR OLD receives First Aid after a one- cident. vehicle accident in Davis. The teenager only suf- dent, fered minor bruises and abrasions from the ac- Six persons were involved in the acci- Utah's Volunteers I I tt frrtping tvuxtt I ivrt. ot eat. It T .iV'J . - , , 1 I I ,i l ftect KO Ii ip-etmct 1 TV." -: ' t ' S - ? " t tu Ciff 1 ' ' tiff I.,, . n I j i v : . .. ' SIX VLf-NAt C? vcl-rg cfcfndj have tcci tomtir.ej into thc la us MaJa!ag tf I rp tuth tafd vc! t)-1? fdcr-ry fu Precinct (jut Naples... Cs f -3 ? ei S ,if tra J tl f" a ?! :i fi 1 310 1 If a f't r -c en p tlf I) t j-jivo i lT3'l ? fsf !a a Vctnal City Read All About your hometown in the Vernal Express On!y $ 14 in Area and $20 out of Area for 104 news filled issues in your mail twico a wock local nows TV nuido special features lots of advertising Subscribe Now! Mail to- Vrrnal tapreM T.O. V,a IQlo Vrrnst. tlati Rq: Name . .,- . , . , I rrr 1 |