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

that habitat essential to the conservation and
recovery of endangered species. The Service is
required to designate critical habitat under ESA.
The biological support for the designation of
critical habitat for the endangered fishes in the
Colorado River system is provided by Maddux et
al. (1993).

D. Recovery Program
Endangered Fish Pistribution Map

. Fi&h Dimibution Areas
. Lakes and Resl";,,r,

t

WYOMING

COLORADO

NEW MEXICO

lIIgare 1-2. The historical distribution ofthcsc fish cxlcndcd
from Wyoming to the Gulf of California.

The Recovery Program is working to reestablish
self-sustaining populations of the endangered fish
in the Upper Basin (Figure 1-2). This is a
cooperative effort among the Service; Reclamation;
Western Area Power Administration; the States of
Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming, water development
interests; and environmental organizations. An
important goal in this effort is seeking solutions for
recovering endangered fishes while allowing water
development to proceed in the Upper Colorado
River Basin (U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987a).

In order to allow continued development of water
in the Upper Basin, the Recovery Program was
developed to serve as a reasonable and prudent
alternative to avoid jeopardy that could result from
consultations related to Section 7 of the
Endangered Species Act. A detailed description of
the Recovery Program and an environmental

assessment on its implementation have been
prepared by the Service (1987a,b). A description
of its evolution with other pertinent background
information was prepared by Wydoski and Hamill
(1991), Complete citations for this material can be
found in Appendix C.

There are five major elements identified by the
Recovery Program as critical for the recovery the
endangered fishes in the Upper Basin. These
elements are:
(1) flow management;
(2) habitat enhancement and maintenance;
(3) stocking of endangered fish;
(4) management of nonnative fish and
sport fishing; and
(5) research, monitoring, and data
management (U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service 1987a,b).

The proposed action entails the restoration,
enhancement, and protection of habitats required
by the endangered fishes via non-flow alternatives
outlined in the second element of the Recovery
Program.

E. Overview of Upper Colorado River
Basin

The Colorado River and its tributaries provide
water for municipal, agricultural, industrial, and
mining uses. These rivers also provide sport
fishing, rafting, boating, camping, and a host of
other recreational activities.

Water development and management in the Upper
Basin have altered the natural river ecosystem.
Dam construction, water storage, and reservoir
operations have changed the natural hydrograph -

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