BOARD00038 ‎(2)‎

• Board Meeting Date: 9/20/2006
• Description: WSP Section - San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program Document Revisions
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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naturally produced fish equals or exceeds mean annual adult mortality for each
population; and (c) each point estimate for each population exceeds 5,800 adults; and
4. certain site-specific management tasks to minimize or remove threats have been finalized
and implemented, and necessary levels of protection are attained.

Summary of Management Actions Needed in the San Juan River Basin
The recovery plan for razorback sucker lists the following management actions applicable to
recovering and conserving the San Juan River Basin population:

1. reestablish the San Juan River population with hatchery-produced fish;

2. provide habitat in the San Juan River, including flow regimes necessary to restore and
maintain needed environmental conditions, necessary to provide adequate habitat and
sufficient range for all life stages to support a recovered population of razorback sucker in
the river;

provide passage over, around or through fish migration and movement barriers within
occupied habitat to allow unimpeded movement and, potentially, range expansion;

minimize entrainment of sub-adults and adults at diversion structures, including ditch
headings and pumping stations;

provide for adequate protection against over-utilization;

provide for adequate protection against diseases and parasites;

regulate non-native fish introduction, stocking and escapement into the San Juan River
and its floodplains and tributaries;

8. control invasive, detrimental non-native fishes as needed;

9. minimize the risks of spills of hazardous materials within critical habitat;

10. remediate water quality problems, if any;

11. minimize the threat of hybridization with white sucker; and

12. provide for the long-term management and protection of the population and its habitat
beyond deli sting (i.e., develop and implement a conservation plan for the population).

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Estimated Time to Achieve Recovery

Time to achieve recovery of the razorback sucker cannot be accurately estimated until self-
sustaining populations are established through augmentation and habitat enhancement. Extant
populations of razorback sucker are small with little or no recruitment. Therefore, the use of
hatchery fish (progeny of cultured brood stock) will be necessary to establish new populations or
augment existing populations. The rate at which populations become established will depend on
survival of stocked fish in the wild, integration of stocked fish with wild stocks, reproductive
success, and recruitment. Response of the species to ongoing management activities will need to
be assessed through monitoring leading to the development of strategies for recovery. Estimates
of time to achieve recovery will be reevaluated periodically. Based on current information and
associated uncertainties, it is estimated that a self-sustaining population of razorback sucker may
be established in the San Juan River within fifteen years. During this time, population dynamics
and responses to management actions will be evaluated.

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