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<br /> <br />squawfish was assigned a species priority of 4 so that action for <br />propagation of this species is lower than for the three other endangered <br />Colorado River fishes. <br />Although the Colorado squawfish is considered stable in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin and was assigned the lowest priority among the <br />endangered fish that are valuable to the Program as broodstocks, The ' <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife identified a need for captive-reared fish <br />from this stock for restoration stocking in the reach of the Colorado <br />River between Palisades CO and Rifle CO and augmentation stocking in the <br />Gunnison River upstream from the Redlands Irrigation Diversion Dam near <br />Grand Junction CO. These needs will be further discussed in Section <br />VI.3., "Long-Term Endangered Fish Needs". <br />B. Short-Term Endangered Fish Needs. Short-term endangered fish needs <br />involve the use of captive-reared fish to conduct research studies and <br />for use in information and education programs. <br />1. Information and Education. Although actual needs for endangered <br />Colorado River fishes for public relations programs have not been <br />identified, fish needs for this important outreach program can be <br />furnished from existing and future propagation facilities. Generally, <br />fish that are produced in excess of Program requirements will be used for <br />information and education programs. Excess fish are produced during <br />propagation to-compensate for unknown mortality so that sufficient <br />numbers of fish survive to be used as broodstocks. <br />2. Field and Laboratory Studies. The need for captive-reared endangered <br />fish have been identified for the following experimental field studies: <br />(A) Imprinting or Homing (Chemo-Reception) Studies in Razorback <br />Suckers <br />Study (A) - 1,523 razorback suckers are being reared that will i <br />weigh 4,351 pounds after the 5th growing season and will require ¦ <br />nearly 3.0 acres of pond space. An additional 919 fish were <br />imprinted in 1992 that will weigh 2,625 pounds after the .5th <br />growing season and require nearly 2.0 acres of pond space. <br />(B) Imprinting or Homing (Chemo-Reception) Studies in Colorado <br />squawfish <br />Study (B) - 446 Colorado squawfish are being reared that will <br />weigh 369 pounds after the 5th growing season and require about <br />0.33 acre of pond space. <br />(C) Ecological Requirements and Movements of Adult Razorback Suckers <br />Study (C) - Up to 60 razorback suckers will be reared to <br />maturity, radio-tagged, and released in the upper Colorado River. <br />These fish will weigh 171 pounds after the 5th growing season and <br />require 0.11 acres of pond space. <br />40