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. 3 . Relationship to CDOW Mission The mission of the CDOW is to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the State and provide people the opportunity to enjoy them. Thus, the two primary roles of the CDOW include: (1) protecting Colorado's wildlife resources by assuring viable populations of all species; and (2) providing opportunities for consumptive and non-consumptive wildlife-related recreation. The challenge facing the CDOW is to simultaneously implement both facets of its mission. One approach to accomplishing the overall CDOW mission is to develop and utilize a variety of species and habitat management approaches including ecosystem management to insure the viability of all wildlife species is considered when decisions are made. Therefore, an objective of this stocking analysis is to report the impacts, risks, and uncertainties of introducing tiger muskie into select western Colorado waters. The question of whether to manage tiger muskie in western Colorado is best examined in terms of the balance that must exist between protecting wildlife and providing sportfishing opportunities. Ultimately, the question becomes: Is there a reasonable way to provide new angling opportunities and also protect the existing aquatic wildlife resource? This is a key question because while there is an increasing interest for non-consumptive and native wildlife management, sportfishing opportunities are also in great demand. Surveys show that in 1991 an estimated 10,000 to 13,000 anglers fished approximately 66,000 days for warmwater fish species in western Colorado. Furthermore, during recent public meetings conducted in western Colorado, a great deal of interest has been expressed in expanding warmwater fish management efforts in this part of the State. Two of these include Recovery Implementation Program public meetings conducted in Grand Junction (7/1/93) and Craig (8/25/93). In addition to providing for angling diversity, warmwater fish are in demand in western Colorado because some waters in this part of the State are too warm to provide opportunities for salmonid management. Furthermore, some cold water reservoirs have the capability of supporting a diversity of cold- and warmwater fishes. Thus, from a sportfishing perspective, there is a need and a niche for introduced warm water species to provide angling opportunities in western Colorado. . . . . . . . .