8231

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8231
• Author: Maddux, H. R.
• Title: Draft Environmental Assessment For Procedures For Stocking Of Nonnative Fish Species In The Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: Grand Junction, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

B. FEATURES COMMON TO ALL ACTION ALTERNATIVES
Although trout in some portions of the Colorado River system have been shown
to impact endangered fishes, no such impacts have been identified in the Upper
Basin. Therefore, stocking of trout anywhere in the Upper Basin is permitted
under all alternatives and is not an issue of this environmental assessment.
This includes the stocking of trout directly into riverine habitats. Stocking
of Utah chub into waters where they currently exist would also be permitted on
a routine basis under all alternatives.
Waters that are above the 50-year floodplain but have a direct connection to
rivers in the Upper Colorado River Basin (e.g., Elkhead Reservoir, HighTline
Reservoir, and others) will be equipped or managed with an anti-escapement
device or practice acceptable to the Service and the State fish and wildlife
agencies before the continued stocking of nonnative, warmwater fish species
will be allowed.
Also common to al-1 the alternatives is that the stocking of nonsalmonid (fish
other than trout) species would be prohibited directly into occupied
endangered fish habitat. Stocking not permitted on a routine basis or not
prohibited outright would require a case-by-case review prior to permitting
that stocking to occur. The case-by-case review process has been outlined in
Appendix B. Proposals to stock in locations or situations not considered
routine will be subject to case-by-case review and'will include the following
minimal information:
A. The purpose and location of the proposed stocking.
B. The species, numbers, and rationale for selecting the species.
C. The potential for escapement, the potential for survival in critical
habitat if escapement occurs, and control measures that could be
implemented to reduce the risk of escapement.
D. The potential for impact to threatened and endangered species and
the specific measures available to remedy any impacts that may occur
including their feasibility and likelihood of success.
E. A plan for monitoring the effects of stocking nonnative fishes on
the endangered Colorado River fishes.
The States and the Service recognize that introducing new fish species,
including hybrids, into an ecosystem can result in unanticipated impacts on
native fishes. For this reason, few proposals to introduce new fish species
or hybrids into the Upper Basin are anticipated. Proposals to stock fishes
that do not presently occur in the basin will be subject to case-by-case
review and will include the following minimal information:
A. The purpose and location of the proposed stocking.
B. The species, numbers, and rationale for selecting the species.
C. The potential for escapement, the potential for survival in critical
habitat if escapement occurs, and control measures that could be
implemented to reduce the risk of escapement.
D. The potential for impact to threatened and endangered species and
the specific measures available to remedy any impacts that may occur
including their feasibility and likelihood of success.
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