9552

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9552
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Management Plan for the Big-River Fishes of the Lower Colorado River Basin
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: amendment and supplement to the Bonytail, Humpback chub, Colorado pikeminnow, and Razorback sucker Recovery Plans.
• Copyright Material: NO

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USBR are collaborating in stocking razorback sucker downstream of Parker

' Dam. The USBR is funding monitoring by ASU for razorback sucker stocked
downstream of Parker Dam. Additionally, Willow Beach National Fish Hatchery-
. capabilities have been enhanced by construction of new facilities at the main
hatchery and at the Achii Hanyo facility to increase production. Funds for these
' efforts were provided by the Service and USBR. Funds have also been provided
to the AGFD Bubbling Ponds Hatchery by USBR for site renovation to increase
their capabilities to raise native fish. Isolated habitats on private golf courses,
' CNWR, and Havasu National Wildlife Refuge (HNWR) are being used for rearing
and for identifying suitable habitat conditions that can be used toward developing
sustainable populations. This latter project has been funded by the Service.
Activities are also ongoing in the Gila River drainage where razorback sucker
and Colorado pikeminnow are being introduced by AGFD under an experimental
' nonessential designation for Colorado pikeminnow and a fully protected status
for razorback suckers.
' The 2002 Recovery Goals address the recovery of the four "big-river" fishes in
both the upper and lower basins. The two basins differ significantly in the degree
to which the river has been modified or controlled for water development,
' remaining natural habitats, extant populations of the "big-river" fishes, and the
significance of the existing sport fish populations. The LCRMP is designed to
take advantage of the lower basin's physical and biological conditions, and
' addresses lower basin habitats, extant populations, and previous actions taken
that have contributed to their survival and recovery.

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These strategies reflect ideas thought most likely to promote the survival,
reestablishment, and stabilization of "big-river" fish populations, leading to
recovery in the lower basin by developing inter-related populations of these
species in a variety of habitats. This document has as a primary goal the
coordination among stakeholders and the continued focus on the Recovery
Goals for each species. Down-listing and de-listing criteria and Recovery Goals
for these species in the lower Colorado River basin are presented in Appendix I.
MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
KEY FACTORS USED IN DEVELOPING MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES
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