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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />These "Genetics Management Guidelines" provide a conceptual framework for <br />genetics management and rationale for maintaining genetic diversity of wild <br />and captive endangered fish stocks in the Upper Colorado River Basin. A <br />"Genetics Management Plan" will identify and characterize endangered fish <br />stocks in the upper basin, determine status and trends, and establish <br />priorities for effective and rational genetics management by species and <br />stocks within specific river reaches. Finally, "Stocking Plans" for specific <br />actions will include the justification and rationale for stocking and other <br />details such as species, size of fish, timing of release, location of release, <br />genetic risks, and a description of how the evaluation of the stocking will be <br />made. Stocking plans must be approved by the Program and must be covered by a <br />Federal Fish and Wildlife Permit. A Section 7 consultation under the <br />Endangered Species Act may be required to determine if the proposed stocking <br />may jeopardize wild stocks of endangered fish in the upper basin. <br />The philosophy, mission, and goals of the Recovery Implementation Program are <br />to maintain the genetic integrity of wild and captive-reared endangered fishes <br />in the Upper Colorado River Basin and to prevent irreversible losses of <br />genetic diversity that may result from management interventions or lack of <br />action. Recovery efforts of the Program will first evaluate management <br />opportunities and potential genetic risks. Initially, efforts will be made to <br />protect natural sustaining stocks and to reestablish wild endangered fish <br />stocks by removing or significantly reducing limiting factors that cause <br />population declines or losses. Captive propagation and stocking will be used <br />as a temporary fishery management tool to facilitate recovery of the <br />endangered fishes in the upper basin while preserving the genetic diversity <br />inherent to wild stocks. When supplementation (i.e., augmentation and <br />restoration stocking) is needed, an acceptable breeding and rearing strategy <br />will be used to develop broodstocks and progeny with genetic diversity similar <br />to that of the parent wild stocks. Criteria used to identify and characterize <br />endangered fish stocks include geographic distribution and abundance, <br />identified or suspected spawning sites, migrations, known movement and <br />interchange between stocks, and genetic characterization of stocks. Criteria <br />used to determine status and trends of the endangered fishes in the upper <br />basin include defining the distribution and abundance of stocks, documenting <br />spawning and recruitment, identifying the potential of extinction of stocks <br />from catastrophic risk, and estimating the probability for imminent <br />extinction. <br />A systems approach with four basic planning steps including (1) inventory and <br />scoping (i.e., assessment of issues or problems), (2) strategic planning <br />(i.e., genetic risk assessment, identification of strategies to solve issues <br />or problems facing the recovery effort), (3) operational planning (i.e., <br />implementation of strategies), and (4) evaluation will be used to guide <br />genetics management in the upper basin. All stocking of endangered fishes in <br />the Upper Colorado River Basin will be conducted as experiments that will be <br />thoroughly evaluated to ensure genetic conservation of the remaining wild <br />endangered fish stocks. <br />