8031

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8031
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Fish and Wildlife Service Final Biological and Conference Opinion on Lower Colorado River Operations and Maintenance - Lake Mead to Southerly International Boundary.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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BIOLOGICAL OPINION

Proposed Action

Approximately 8,000 young razorback suckers were produced and reared for stocking into rearing
ponds at Lake Havasu. In 1995, the first of six paired outside raceways received solar-heated
water in a closed circuit loop, providing a warm water rearing area for razorback suckers and
bony tail chub. In 1996 and 1997, five more raceway units will be developed. Reclamation is also
providing funds and staff for feeding and maintaining the fishes in these modified facilities.
Reclamation is committed to this cooperative program with the Service to develop warm water
rearing capabilities at Willow Beach that will assist in achieving the goals for the two endangered
fish described above.

li. HA VFISH project

Reclamation is an active partner of the multi-agency Lake Havasu Fishery Improvement Project,
HA VFlSH. One of the objectives of this multi-agency program is to release 25,000 razorback
suckers and 25,000 bony tail chub into Lake Havasu over the next ten years.

ill. Boulder City Golf Course native fish rearing project

Reclamation and NDOW signed an interagency agreement with the City of Boulder Ci ty, Nevada,
to use the ponds at Boulder City Golf Course for rearing of native fishes. During 1994 the first
lake on the course was drained and a new liner and aeration system were installed. In October
1994 approximately 1,400 juvenile razorback suckers (3-4 inches total length) were stocked into
the pond. During 1995, over 400 of these suckers reached the target length of 10 inches and wer e
stocked into Lake Mohave. During the 1996 spring spawning period, at least five of these tagged
fish were captured and re-released during monitoring efforts in Lake Mohave. This program is
expanding with the development of three more ponds on the golf course, one each in 1996, 1997,
and 1998.

iv. Hualapai native fish rearing facility

Reclamation is providing technical and financial support to the Hualapai Tribe in northern Arizona
for the potential development of a prototype native fish rearing facility. This facility may raise
razorback suckers, bonytail chub, humpback chub and other native fish for reintroduction into the
Colorado River and its tributaries, within Grand Canyon, and on tribal lands. The assessment of
this potential project began in 1992 and is expected to continue.

b. Native riparian plant restoration

Reclamation is committed to maintaining and expanding the cooperative native riparian plant
restoration programs initiated along the LCR. These partnership activities include the
establishment of native plant nurseries, demonstration plantings, enhancement projects, and
research. Reclamation will commit at least $100,000 per year for the five year period covered by

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