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Colorado Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility November 1998 Page 2 Overview: The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW), in cooperation with the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) is constructing a Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility (NASRF) near Alamosa in the San Luis Valley. GOCO also provided funding for the initial site analysis and design. The mission of this facility will be to rear species of native aquatic wildlife that are either listed as threatened or endangered, or are in a serious state of decline over their range. These species will then be stocked into suitable habitats throughout Colorado. In addition, research will be conducted on rearing these species, since it will be the first time many of them will be reared in captivity. The NASRF will also serve as an educational facility stressing the importance of maintaining the state's native aquatic wildlife. The Division of Wildlife will be responsible for operation of the Hatchery. Cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as well as other state wildlife agencies will be a key activity. The concept of the NASR facility is not new and has been under discussion for some time. It has become an increasingly clear realization that unless populations of declining species are augmented with those bred in captivity, there will never be a realistic chance of recovery. The status of the razorback sucker in the Upper Colorado River Basin is one of the best examples of this fact. Unless the razorback is raised in a hatchery and then stocked to bolster wild population numbers, it is very unlikely it will be recovered. All NASR facility species will be reared to develop wild traits that will enable their survival when stocked. In addition, geneticists will also play an important role in determining that those species reared represent pure strains. The NASR facility design is in progress, with construction planned to begin in summer 1999 and expected completion by spring 2000 when we will begin to capture fish. Specific production goals of the facility are being developed. They will include those species that are listed as threatened or endangered, as well as those that are not yet listed, but are in serious decline. Further discussions with all concerned will establish these production goals. For example, the CDOW is currently participating with the USFWS and other states to determine production needs for the endangered fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Once these are established, the role of the NASR facility will be determined. Preliminary production concepts and goals are attached. It should also be recognized that those species reared at the NASR facility will only be stocked into those waters where conditions are deemed suitable for survival. This stocking will also be accompanied by a variety of management activities and long-term monitoring to assure that recovery goals are met.