7282

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7282
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, R. I. P.
• Title: Final Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

be employed at suitable locations in the upper basin. One approach that is
particularly promising is construction of grow-out (rearing) ponds, where fry
and young-of-the-year could be reared under conditions closely similar to
those that exist in the wild and from which they can be released into suitable
habitat within their historic range in the upper basin.
Species management techniques also will be implemented as part of this
comprehensive program. The agencies will thoroughly investigate how
artificially reared rare fish stocks can be used in the recovery program. If
it is determined that hatchery-reared fish will contribute to recovery,
production of hatchery-reared stocks will be initiated. Because the bonytail
chub is on the verge of extinction, it will be immediately reintroduced into
the wild to attempt to improve its status and to permit more careful study of
its habitat requirements. Stocking and management of nonnative species will
also be carefully monitored and controlled through a cooperative effort
between the State wildlife agencies and the Service to minimize negative
interactions between these species and the rare native species.
Finally, it is recognized that there is a need for coordinated research and
monitoring efforts among the agencies. Thus, this program establishes a
mechanism for assessing population trends for the rare species and for
coordinating and prioritizing all research and monitoring efforts.
Funding--Several sources of funding will be needed to finance the recovery
program, including funds from the Federal government, the States of Colorado,
Utah, and Wyoming, power and water users, and private donations. Funding will
be used to finance both annual operations and capital expenditures associated
with the recovery program. The annual operating cost of the recovery program
is estimated at $2.3 million which will cover activities such as monitoring,
research, species and habitat management, acquisition feasibility studies,
additional annual flow acquisition expenditures, information and education,
and program management.
In addition to the annual budget, a minimum of $15 million will be needed from
Congress to be used under advisement of the Implementation Committee for
acquisition of water rights to provide flows for rare species ($10 million)
and for other critical capital expenditures ($5 million).
New water project proponents involved in Section 7 consultation will also
contribute financially to the recovery program. Project proponents will make
a one-time contribution of $10 per acre-foot based on the estimated average
annual depletion of the project. Existing and future Reclamation projects
will be exempt from the depletion charge, since they will refine operations to
provide water for rare species and contribute financially to the program.
1.4 IMPLEMENTATION
The recovery program summarized in this document is an integrated,
cooperative, comprehensive, and ambitious effort to recover the rare fish
species in a manner which is compatible with all Federa l and State laws and
all private development projects. Each component of this program is necessary
and feasible. However, this program is not intended as a precedent that is to
be applied in other river basins or other situations.

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