8123

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8123
• Author: Wydoski, R. S.
• Title: Coordinated Hatchery Facility Plan
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: Need for Captive-Reared Endangered Fish and Propagation Facilities.
• Copyright Material: NO

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INTRODUCTION ;
.
Four large river fishes are considered endangered in the Upper Colorado River
Basin: the Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius), bonytail (Gila
ele4ans), humpback chub (Gila cvpha), and razorback sucker (Xvrauchen
texanus). Recovery plans have been written for the bonytail, humpback chub,
and Colorado squawfish (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1990a, 1990b, 1991,
respectively). The razorback sucker was listed as an endangered species in
1991 and a recovery plan is being developed for this species. A proposed
determination of critical habitat for the endangered fishes was published in
the Federal Register on January 29, 1993 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1993a) and an economic analysis of the recovery program for these fishes was
also prepared in 1993 (Brookshire et al. 1993).
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), through the Secretary of the
Interior, is responsible for protection and recovery of endangered species
under the Endangered Species Act. To protect the endangered fishes while
allowing future water development of the Upper Colorado River Basin to meet
the demands of society, the Service coordinated an effort to develop a
Recovery Implementation Program (Program) for the endangered Colorado River
fishes (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987a, 1987b).
Five elements identified in the Recovery Implementation Program for recovery
of the endangered fish species were: (1) provision of in-stream flows; (2)
habitat development and maintenance; (3) native fish stocking; (4) management
of non-native species and sport fishing; and (5) research, monitoring, and
data management. An Environmental Assessment was prepared that included the
proposed action in the "Recovery Implementation Program" and a "Finding of No
Significant Impact" was issued by the Service on November 13, 1987 (U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service 1987b). A Section 7 consultation under the Endangered
Species Act and a recovery action plan on the Program was prepared that
addresses the issue of sufficient progress toward recovery (U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service 1993b).
This effort includes participation by most potentially affected interests in
the upper Colorado River: the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, U.S.
Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, water development
interests, and environmental organizations (Wydoski and Hamill 1991). A ten-
member interagency Upper Colorado River Implementation Committee was created
to oversee the recovery program for endangered fishes in the upper basin
within the framework of the Endangered Species Act, existing states' water
rights, and terms of the Colorado River compacts (Rose and Hamill 1988). This
committee is advised by experts in the disciplines of biology, hydrology and
geomorphology. The Program was initiated on October 1, 1988 with the goal of
recovering the endangered fishes within a 15-year period.
Although the feasibility for propagation of the endangered fishes was
considered even before the Program was initiated (Valentine 1983), most
propagation efforts were directed at rearing fish for laboratory and field
experimentation (Valdez 1985). In 1992, Program propagation efforts were
revived. The Service Endangered Fishes Propagation Coordinator developed a
draft "Facilities Assessment for Propagating Endangered Fish Species in the
Upper Colorado River Basin" in January 1992 (Williamson 1992b). In another
effort, the Colorado Water Conservation Board contracted to have a
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