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Questions commonly asked about the endangered fish of the Colorado River System 1. Why should anyone care about saving endangered fish? The reasons for saving these fish range from environmental and recreational to legal. Environmental reasons The decline of the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, bonytail chub and razorback sucker indicates that the natural river environment has been drastically changed. The decline of these fish In the Colorado River system mirrors an Increasing trend In the extinction rates of native fish In North America. According to an American Fisheries Society bulletin, human Impact has caused 40 species and subspecies of fish hi North America to become extinct this century; 19 of these have disappeared alnce 1964. Conservation organizations estimate that every day, at least one species In the world becomes extinct. And the U.S. FIsh and Wildlife Service lists more than 350 animals and more than 230 plants as endangered or threatened In the United States. Another 3,700 plant and animal species being studied for possible listing. "0 0 0 0 0 0 " . ,..- ".- ~ ".-. .. ...~.., ...- .. ~ . Like the coal miner's canary, whose death forewarns workers of toxic gases underground, the decline of the native fish Is an early warning system for the river habitat. If the ''weakest link" In this ecosystem can be saved, the environment may be preserved as well. Sport-fishing 0 Saving the fish may also provide recreational benefits through trophy sport-fishIng. Colorado squawtish, North America's largest minnow, once grew to more than 6 feet long and reached weights of up to 80 pounds. The Colorado River's top predator until the early 1900s, Colorado squawtish have been known to eat mice, birds, even prairie dogs. Also, this fish was called "white salmon" and "Colorado salmon" by early seUlers. who valued It as a food and sport fish. If the fish can be recovered, tomorrow's anglers may gain the opportunity to reel In squawtish weighing 15 to 20 pounds. Ecosystem balance, scientific benefits Sclentlflc research has shown that each species In an ecosystem has a unique purpose. Losing one species can cause a chain reaction affecting a series of other species. The loss of a species also means the loss of Its unique genetic material and any medical, Industrial and agricultural benefits that might have been discovered. Heritage These four fish are part of the heritage of the West and are fou"nd nowhere else In the world. In fact, the Colorado squawtlsh and razorback sucker evolved more than 3 mlllion years ago. Modern man has existed only about 100,000 to 250,000 years. Legal basis These endangered fish are also protected by state and federal laws. The federal Endangered Species Act of 1973 states that endangered and threatened species offish, wildlife and plants "are of esthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific valoe to the nation and its people." In passing this act, Congress was reflecting the beliefthat endangered species should be saved wherever possible. PhiloSophical reasons As Aldo Leopold, one ofthefounders of the conservation movement, said, n. . . Quit thinking about decel'lt land-use as solely an economic problem. . . The last word In Ignorance Is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good Is It?' Ifthe land mechanism as a whole Is good, then every part Is good. whether we understand It or not . . . To keep every cog and wheel Is the first precaution of Intelligent tinkering. . .n (From "A Sand County Almanac" and "Round River.") 2. Why are these fish endangered? The fish are endangered because of human Impact on their habitat over the past 100 years. The two types of habit'!t alterations that probably have had the greatest impact have been water development and introductions of non-native fish.