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<br />. <br /> <br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />This draft stocking analysis, prepared in response to Colorado Wildlife Commission <br />direction, predicts potential impacts of tiger muskie1 introduction in select western Colorado <br />reservoirs. The report does not recommend whether the Colorado Division of Wildlife should <br />expand tiger muskie management to western Colorado, rather this document is intended to <br />openly solicit internal input and careful evaluation from external agencies and the general public. <br />This report evaluates tiger muskie management in light of the dual mission of the <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife to protect wildlife as well as to provide for recreational wildlife <br />opportunities. Therefore, an objective of this draft stocking analysis is to assess the impacts, <br />risks, and uncertainties of introducing tiger muskie into select western Colorado waters. This <br />report attempts to address means of providing new angling opportunities for tiger muskie while <br />protecting the existing aquatic resource. <br />A total of nine waters, six from the Northwest Region and three from the Southwest <br />Region, were reviewed as potential introductory sites. A risk assessment evaluation included <br />review of the following criteria for candidate waters: (1) escapement potential to connecting <br />waterways; (2) potential impact on threatened and endangered fish species if escapement occurs; <br />(3) potential impact on other native fish species if escapement occurs; (4) on-site impact on <br />existing sportfish populations; (5) off-site impacts on existing sportfish populations; and (6) <br />potential of tiger muskie to enhance sportfishing value. On the basis of this evaluation process, <br />six western Colorado reservoirs are potential candidates for tiger muskie stocking: Green <br />Mountain Reservoir, Hallenbeck Reservoir, Harvey Gap Reservoir, Juniata Reservoir, and Rio <br />Blanco Reservoir in the Northwest Region, and Sanchez Reservoir in the Southwest Region. <br />Stocking and monitoring procedures are described for these waters to further describe how tiger <br />muskie could be managed in western Colorado. <br />Stocking would be characterized by conservative introductory rates, and bi-annual rather <br />than annual supplemental stocking. Any introductions would be monitored by annual <br />standardized inventorying of reservoir(s) and associated drainages for the first five years after <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />1 Only common names of fishes are used in this report; these conform to common names <br />prescribed by Rubins et. al. 1991 A List of Common and Scientific Names of Fishes from the <br />United States and Canada, 5th Edition, American Fisheries Society Special Publication Number <br />20. <br /> <br />11 <br /> <br />. <br />