8197

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8197
• Author: Martinez, P. J.
• Title: Development and Application of Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Speacies in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: Grand Junction, CO.
• Copyright Material: NO

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Federal Register / Vol. 59, No. 54 / Monday, March 21, 1994 / Rules and Regulations 13385
Opinion issued on October 25, 1991 by
the Service, the Bureau of Reclamation
agreed to fund 7 years of research and
to develop a Recovery Implementation
Program for the San Juan River. On
October 24, 1991, a Memorandum of
Understanding was signed by the -
Service, the Bureau of Reclamation, the
Bureau of Indian Affairs, States of
Colorado-and New Mexico, the Ute
Mountain. Indian Tribe, the Southern
Ute Indian Tribe, and the Jicarilla
Apache Indian Tribe to set forth certain
agreements and to establish a San Juan
Recovery Implementation Program
(SJRLP). The SJRIP provides the basis for
the recovery of the endangered fishes of
the San Juan River.
The 7-year research effort focuses-on
observing the biological response of
endangered fish populations to habitat
conditions after the reoperation of
Navajo Dam to meet the needs of the
Colorado squawfish and razorback
suckeL The recovery elements define
the major categories of activities that
will be conducted to recover
endangered fish species and maintain
the native fish community in the San.
Juan River Basin. Intensive studies are
being conducted by the SJRIP to
determina'tlze relative abundance and
distribution of endangered fishes and
othermative and nonnative fishes
Modification and loss of habitat, fish
poisoriing,and nonnative fishes have
contributed to the decline of the
Colorada.squawfish and razorback
sucker in the San Juan River Basin.
Regulating structures, such as Navajo
Dam, can be operated to control river
flow and temperatures to affect the
quantity and quality of habitats in
certain river reaches during periods
when they are most critical to
endangered fish species. After
determining appropriate flow needs, the
Biology Committee of the SJRIP, with
input from the Bureau of Reclamation,
will recommend specific flow regimes
to the Service. It is anticipated that the
water for habitat improvement will be
provided by the reoperation of Navajo
Dam.
The Bureau of Reclamation-has agreed
that it will operate Navajo Dam to ,
provide a more natural hydrograph, if
the research shows this type of
hydrograph is beneficial to recovery of
endangered species and the native fish
community. If habitat and flow needs
are identified that cannot be met by
reoperatioa of Navajo Dam, additional
sources of water to meet those needs
will be identified on a case-specific
basis. The success of the SJRIP is
contingent upon the legal protection of
water released for habitat flows
pursuant to Federal. State, and tribal
laws.
To date, 15 years of research and $18
million have been spent in fish stocking
and research on these fish species in the
Lower Basin. A combined research and
management effort continues in the
Lower Basin. This effort involves
researchers from Arizona State
University, Arizona Game and Fish
Department. Nevada Department of
Wildlife, California Fish and Game
Department, Bureau of Reclamation,
Bureau of Land Management, and the
Service. These groups are currently
developing protected grow-out areas in
lakes Mohave and Havasu for razorback
sucker and bonytail. To date, this effort
has shown get potential.-Additionally,
there was a 10-year effort to restore
razorback suckers and Colorado
squawfish into the Gila River drainage.
An extensive research program has
been initiated as part of the Glen
Canyon Environmental Studies (GOES)
to determine life history and ecology of
the humpback chub in the Grand
Canyon. The humpback chub was one of
the initial species listed under the Act.
In 1978, the Service issued a jeopardy
Biological Opinion on the existing
operation of Glen Canyon Dam, but
needed further research to determine
what actions are needed to benefit the
listed fish. At that time, limited
information existed on the distribution,
abundance, life history, and habitat use
for the Grand -Canyon populations in the
Colorado River msinstem and its
associated tributaries. The inception of
these studies is an outcome of the initial
GCES/Phase I effort and Service
conservation measures developed as
part of long-term recovery effort for the
species. The research program involves
a coordinated effort among four
principal entities (Arizona State
University, Arizona Game and Fish
Department, Bureau of Reclamation, and
the Service), each addressing specific
study objectives. This program is part of
the short-term experimental research for
the Glen Canyon Dam Environmental
Impact Statement. A commitment to a
long-term research and monitoring
program exists and will function as a
conduit for the culmination of
additional information generated
through the endangered species
research.
Relationship of Critical Habitat to
Other Provisions of the Act
Introduction
The purpose of the Act, as stated in
section 2(b), is to provide a means to
conserve the ecosystems upon which
endangered and threatened species
depend, and to provide a program for
the conservation of listed species.
Section 2(c)(1) of the Act states that
• * all Federal departments and
agencies shall seek to conserve
endangered species and threatened
species and shall utilize their
authorities in furtherance of the
purposes of this Act." Conservation
requirements of species listed as
endangered or threatened under the Act
include recovery actions, requirements
for Federal protection, and prohibitions
against certain practices.
The Act provides for the conservation
of listed species through several
mechanisms, such as section 5 (land
acquisition); section 6 (Federal grants to
States, and research); section 7
(requiring Federal agencies to further
the purposes of the Act by-carrying out
conservation programs, and insuring
that Federal actions will not likely
jeopardize the continued existence of
the listed species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of .
critical habitat); section 9 (prohibition of
taking of listed species); and section 10
(permits for scientific purposes or to
enhance propagation and survival of
listed species and habitat conservation
planning on non-Federal lands).
Critical habitat designation is
primarily intended to identify the
habitat needed for survival and
recovery. Such designation is not a
management or conservation plan, and
designation of critical habitat does not
offer specific direction for managing
habitat. That type of direction, as well
as any change inmanagement priorities,
will come through the administration of
other parts of the Act (e.g., section 7,
section 10 permit process, and recovery
planning) and through development of
management plans for specific species
or areas. However, the designation of
critical habitat in an area can result in -
additional protection for that area
through administration of section 7 of
the Act.
Recovery Planning
Recovery plans developed under
section 4(f) of the Act guide much of the
Service's recovery activities and
promote conservation and eventual
desting of species. Recovery plans
address the steps needed to recover a
species throughout its range and
provide a mechanism for
implementation. Recovery plans
provide guidance, which may include
population goals, and usually include
identification of areas in need of
protection or special management.
Recovery plans can include
management recommendations for areas
proposed or designated as critical
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