9417

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9417
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Final Environmental Assessment
• USFW Year: 1998.
• USFW - Doc Type: Acquisition and Enhancement of Floodplain Habitats along the Upper Colorado, Green, and Gunnison Rivers as part of the Recovery Program for Endangered Colorado River Fishes.
• Copyright Material: NO

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
Western Area Power Administration
State of Colorado
State of Utah
State of Wyoming
National Audubon Society
Environmental Defense Fund
Colorado Wildlife Federation
Wyoming Wildlife Federation.
Colorado Water Congress
Utah Water Users Association
Wyoming Water Development Association
Colorado River Energy Distributors Association

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Endangered fish in the upper Colorado River basin

The upper Colorado River basin is home to 14 native fish species, four of which are now
endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The endangered fish - Colorado squawfish,
razorback sucker, bonytail and humpback chub - evolved in the Colorado River basin and exist
nowhere else on earth. These four fish species are unique to the Colorado River drainage and
exist nowhere else on earth. The Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker evolved 3 to 4 million
years ago. But in half a century, these fish have been pushed to the brink of extinction.

The decline of Colorado River basin fish mirrors a global trend of disappearing native species. In
North America alone, 40 fish species and subspecies have become extinct this century.

Other native fish in the upper Colorado River basin

Only 14 species offish are native to the upper Colorado: the Colorado squawfish, bonytail,
humpback chub, razorback sucker, Colorado River cutthroat trout, Rocky Mountain whitefish,
roundtail chub, speckled dace, Kendall Warm Springs dace, tlannelmouth sucker, mountain
sucker, bluehead sucker, mottled sculpin and the paiute sculpin.

Upper Colorado River Recovery Program

The Upper Colorado River Recovery Program is a multi-agency program established in 1988 to
recover Colorado squawfish, razorback sucker, bonytail and humpback chub 'while also allowing
for development of water resources for agricultural, hydroelectric and municipal uses. To recover
the fish, biologists are conducting research, improving river habitat, providing adequate stream
flows, managing non-native fish, and raising endangered fish in hatcheries for stocking.

Participating organizations and agencies

The organizations and agencies represented on the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program are: