9528 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9528
• Author: Martinez, P. and N. P. Nibbelink.
• Title: Colorado Nonnative Fish Stocking Regulation Evaluation.
• USFW Year: 2004.
• USFW - Doc Type: Grand Junction, Laramie.
• Copyright Material: NO

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
This study was funded in part by the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered
Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The Recovery Program is a joint effort of the
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (LTSFWS); U.S. Bureau of Reclamation; Western Area Power
Administration; the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming; Upper Basin water users;
environmental organizations; Colorado River Energy Distributors Association; and the National
Park Service.
The authors wish to thank Tom Nesler, Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) for his
guidance during this project and Dr. Brett Johnson, Colorado State University (CSU) for his
early input. Anita Martinez and Lori Martin, CDOW Nonnative Fish Control Biologists,
provided data regarding floodplain ponds and stocking activity for nonnative fishes. Pete
Walker, CDOW Fish Disease Specialist, and Linda Chittum were relied upon early-on in this
investigation to direct searches for private sector data records. Kathy Konishi, CDOW Special
Licenses Administrator, supplied available files for various license databases pertinent to this
study. Dan Bennetts, CDOW Technician, and Phil Lorenz, WyGISC technician, performed
various tasks related to the compilation of data needed for spatial depiction and analyses.
We thank Rick Corsi (Mesa County), and Frank Pfeifer (USFWS) for aerial photo
resources of the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. Scott Strain and Jeffrey Germain (CDOW)
provided various spatial resources for this study. Key data for backwater densities of nonnative
fishes were obtained from Kevin Bestgen (CSU), Melissa Trammell (SWCA Inc., Environmental
Consultants), and Doug Osmundson (USFWS). We thank those private sector aquaculturists
who supplied their stocking data upon request. Special thanks go to Greg Brunjak, Chairman of
the Colorado Fish Health Board, for his efforts to facilitate acquisition of private sector stocking
records.
Finally, valuable improvements were made to early drafts of this report as a result of
comments by Mark Jones (CDOW), Lori Martin, Tom Nesler, and Pat Nelson (USFWS). The
final draft was improved by gracious reviews from Greg Brunjak, Paul Dey (Wyoming Game
and Fish Department), Chuck McAda (USFWS), and Tom Nesler.
Disclaimer
Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or
recommendation for use by the authors, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U. S. Department of
the Interior, or the Recovery Program.
Key Words: nonnative fish, GIS (Geographic Information System), stocking regulations,
floodplain ponds, backwaters, centrarchids, largemouth bass, green sunfish, critical habitat,
Upper Colorado River Basin.
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