WSP12584

• File Number: 8240.200.21
• Description: Colorado River Basin Threatened and Endangered Species - UCRBRIP - Hatchery Facilities
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 9/1/1992
• Author: CWCB
• Title: State of Colorado Hatchery Feasibility Study for Endangered Fishes of the Colorado River Basin - Edited Drafts-With Status of Study Tasks and Schedules - 09-01-92
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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HATCHERY FEASmILI1YSTUDY
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) conducted this feasibility study of fish
culture techniques and of construction and operation of a fish hatchery for the
propagation, in Colorado, of threatened and endangered fish of the Upper Colorado river
basin. The four threatened and endangered fish species which are the subject of the
study are the Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila cypha) ,
bonytail chub (Gila elegans) , and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus).

The study was performed by a team of engineers and biologists under the direction of a
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). The TACis composed of representatives from the
CWCB, Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
(USFWS). The study team consisted of URS Consultants, Inc., prime contractor and
responsible for site evaluation and engineering; Fish Pro, Inc., specializing in fish biology
and hatchery design; Bio /W est, Inc., specializing in fish biology and fish culture
techniques and Leonard Rice Consulting Water Engineers, specializing in the investigation
of the water supply aspects of the study.

The primary study tasks are briefly described in the following sections and are as follows:

o Review of Existing literature and Facilities
o Biological Design and Culture Techniques
o Site Identification and Screening
o Site Evaluation and Screening
o Hatchery Design
o Issues

REVIEWF EXISTINCliTERATURl!NDFACILITIES

The purpose of this task was to gather and review available literature and other
information relevant to fish culture, propagation techniques and hatchery design for these
four endangered fish species, as there was no centralized data base for information prior
to this study. Information was compiled from: 1) personal and public sources identified
by the study team; 2) local, state and federal agencies; 3) a field visit to Dexter National
Fish Hatchery; 4) visits and interviews with propagation specialists from the USFWS and
the CDOW; and 5) telephone interviews with key contacts identified by the TAC and
members of the study team.

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