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Recovery Goals Provide Measures of Success he U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved final, basin-wide recovery goals for the endangered hump- back chub, bony tail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker on August 1, 2002. The recovery goals were developed with collaborative input from public, private, and tribal stakeholders, and scientists from the Colorado River Basin. The goals are based on the best available science and provide reasonable assurances that recovery can be achieved and the species protected into the future. The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program are using this information to expand their efforts to bring the four fish species back from the brink of extinction. The Recovery Programs are stocking hatchery-produced fish, working to manage nonnative fishes, and improving habitat to maintain or restore populations. Consistent with the governing documents of the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Recovery Programs, the recovery goals adhere to State and Federal laws related to the Colorado River System ("Law of the River"), including State water law, interstate river compacts, and Federal trust respon- sibilities. The recovery goals identify site-specific management actions to minimize or remove threats and specify the numbers of fish that comprise self-sustaining populations (see table below). Downlisting of the fishes from "endangered" to "threatened" and removing the species from Endangered Species Act pro- tection (delisting) may be considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service once the necessary management actions are achieved and the fish populations reach the required demo- graphic and genetic self-sustaining standards. The recovery goals are comprehensive, biologically and legal- ly sound, and provide specific criteria for recovery. Research- based adaptive management, however, may lead to future revisions of the recovery criteria. The recovery goals and the status of the species will be formally reviewed at least every five years. Monitoring of fish populations will help guide this process, and population estimates will serve as a starting point against which progress toward recovery is measured. - DEMOGRAPHIC CRITERIA FOR RECOVERY DOWN LISTING DELlSTING Over a 5-year monitoring period: · Maintain the six populations ("no net loss") · One core population in upper basin> 2,100 adults · One core population in lower basin> 2,100 adults Humpback Chub For 3 years beyond down listing: · Maintain the six populations ("no net loss") · Two core populations in upper basin> 2,100 adults · One core population in lower basin> 2,100 adults Over a 5-year monitoring period: · Maintain reestablished populations in Green River and Upper Colorado River Subbasins, each> 4,400 adults · Maintain established genetic refuge of adults in lower basin · Maintain two reestablished populations in lower basin, each> 4,400 adults Bony tail For 3 years beyond downlisting: · Maintain populations in Green River and Upper Colorado River Subbasins, each> 4,400 adults · Maintain genetic refuge of adults in lower basin · Maintain two populations in lower basin, each> 4,400 adults Colorado Pikeminnow Over a 5-year monitoring period: · Maintain the upper basin meta population · Maintain populations in Green River and Upper Colorado River Subbasins ("no net loss") · Green River Subbasin population> 2,600 adults · Upper Colorado River Subbasin population> 700 adults · Establish 1,000 age 5+ sub adults in San Juan River For 7 years beyond down listing: · Maintain the upper basin meta population · Maintain populations in Green River and Upper Colorado River Subbasins ("no net loss") · Green River Subbasin population> 2,600 adults · Upper Colorado River Subbasin population> 1,000 adults OR Upper Colorado River Subbasin population > 700 adults and San Juan River population> 800 adults Razorback Sucker Over a 5-year monitoring period: · Maintain reestablished populations in Green River Subbasin and EITHER in Upper Colorado River Subbasin or in San Juan River Subbasin, each> 5,800 adults · Maintain established genetic refuge of adults in Lake Mohave · Maintain two reestablished populations in lower basin, each> 5,800 adults 8 For 3 years beyond down listing: · Maintain populations in Green River Subbasin and EITHER in Upper Colorado River Subbasin OR in San Juan River Subbasin, each> 5,800 adults · Maintain genetic refuge of adults in Lake Mohave · Maintain two populations in lower basin, each> 5,800 adults 2004-2005 Program Highlights