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

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State of Utah

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE & FOOD

Michael O. Leavitt
Governor
Cary G. Peterson
Commissioner
Van Burgess
Deputy Commissioner

350 North Redwood Road
P.O. Box 146500
Saft Lake Cfty, Utah 84114-6500
[phone]
[phone] FAX

March 19, 1998

Henry Maddux, Director
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish
Recovery Program
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
P.O. Box 25486, DFC
Denver, CO 80225

Dear Sir:

Thank you for providing the "Draft Environmental Assessment(EA) for the ProposedAcquisition and Enhancement
of Floodplain Habitats Along the Upper Colorado, Green, and Gunnison Rivers" for review.

I have reviewed the EA and fmd one deficiency. On page 1-3 you list the other factors which have impacted the
endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado Basin. The draft has omitted reference to the Asian tapeworm,
Bothriocephalus acheilognathi, which infects three of the four endangered species to be recovered under the project,
namely the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, and bonytail chub. I believe this is a serious deficiency which
should be discussed in the EA.

I refer you to two experts on the subject. The first one has worked on the Asian tapeworm problem in the Colorado
River Basin for several years, ie, its impact on the above endangered species. The second orie has researched the
Asian tapeworm for years.

1. Jerry Landye, USFWS Fish Biologist
Rt 1, Box 185
Lakeside, AZ 85929
Ph. 520-367-1902 FAX [phone]

2. Drew Mitchell, USFWS Fish Biologist
Fish Farming Experiment Stn
PO Box 860
Stuttgart, AR 72160-0860
Ph. 870-673-4483 FAX [phone]
E-mail R8FFEL.FWS.GOV

Sincerely,

.h.~~

A. Kent Hauck
Fish Pathologist

cc: Jerry Landye, (FAX); Drew Mitchell (FAX); Michael R. Marshall DVM, Utah State Veterinarian

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