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<br />, ' <br /> <br />O' <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />PROCEDURES FOR STOCKING NONNATIVE FISH SPECIES <br />IN THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN <br />December 10, 1993 <br /> <br />I. PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES <br /> <br />The Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper Colorado <br />River Basin (Procedures) have been developed as a cooperative effort <br />between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the States of <br />Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (States). The purpose of the Procedures is <br />to ensure that all future stockings of nonnative fish will be consistent <br />with recovery of the endangered Colorado squawfish (Ptvchocheilus <br />lucius), humpback chub (Gila cvoha), bony tail chub (Gila eleQans), and <br />razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus) within the Upper Colorado River <br />Basin (Upper Basin), excluding the San Juan River basin. The Procedures <br />fulfill the requirements established in the Recovery Implementation <br />Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin <br />(Recovery Program) for the States and the Service to "develop procedures, <br />including studies, for reviewing and for resolving disagreements with any <br />proposed introductions into the upper basin." <br /> <br />The Procedures were developed based on the following principles: <br /> <br />1. The Procedures should implement the spirit and intent of the <br />Recovery Program: <br /> <br />o The goal of the Recovery Program is to recover the four <br />endangered Colorado River fishes by establishing naturally self <br />sustaining populations and protecting the habitat upon which <br />they depend. The Procedures are intended to support this goal <br />while allowing nonnative fish stocking for recreational fishing <br />and private aquaculture that is compatible with recovery of the <br />endangered Colorado River fishes to proceed. <br /> <br />o Implementation of these Procedures will contribute to <br />fulfilling the intent for the Recovery Program to serve as the <br />"reasonable and prudent alternative" for certain types of water <br />development in the Upper Basin. ~ <br /> <br />o The Recovery Program directs that "stocking of nonnative <br />species will be confined to areas where the absence of <br />potential conflict with rare or endangered species can be <br />demonstrated. This includes augmentation of existing <br />populations of non-salmonid fishes and introductions of new <br />populations of all non-salmonid fishes and introduction of new <br />populations of all nonnative fish species that compete with or <br />prey upon rare species." The Procedures clarify that the <br />Recovery Program is not intended to abolish stocking of <br />nonnative fishes in the Upper Basin but was designed to guide <br />stocking so that it is consistent with recovery of the <br />endangered Colorado River fishes. <br /> <br />1 <br />