7893

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7893
• Author: Satterfield, J. R., Jr.
• Title: Summary Of Responses, Colorado Division Of Wildlife Lake Management Plans.
• USFW Year: 1994.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

.---

December 1, 1994

I>

Colorado Division of Wildlife
Aquatic Wildlife Section
.. . .6060 Broadway
Denver, CO 80216

Colorado
Wildlife

FEDERATION

Attention: NW Recion LMPs

Dear Resource Managers,

Colorado Wildlife Federation is ple?sed to provide comments on the
Division's proposed Lake Management Plans for the Northwest Region. Because
Colorado Wildlife Federation primarily concurs with the comments being
submitted by National Wildlife Federation, these separate comments are brief.
The two organizations discussed their response at length and collaborated in the
reply being su,bmitted by NWF. CWF was also assisted by research and input
from Galen Buterbaugh.

In addition to reviewing NWF's comments, we would like to encourage the
resource managers in the Division's Aquatic Wildlife Section to give serious
consideration to survey results which will undoubtedly come to your attention in
the near future if they have not already. Colorado State University's Human
Dimensions unit has recently completed a survey of public opinion on the stocking
of non-native species in the Upper Colorado River basin. Diverse sections of the
public were surveyed on the western slope of Colorado and in eastern Utah.

The results, soon to be distributed, caught CWF's attention. A strong
majority of those surveyed supported government efforts to save endangered
species, and specifically thought that non-native fish should only be stocked if it
would not harm endangered species. This was the strong- majority opinion of
groups representing the general public. on the western slope and western slope
anglers, as well as elected -officials and environmental groups.

When asked for an opinion on stocking specific non-native warm water fish -
- bass, tiger muskie and catfish -- even then, there was not majority support
among any of the groups, including the general public or anglers, for stocking
these sport fish if there was potential harm to endangered fish.

Our impression is tlfat the Division of Wildlife does not hear this message
nearly often enough. Instead, you are besieged with the message of a vocal
minority interested in promoting their particular sport fish. As I tried to
communicate at the most receqt Anglers' Roundtable meeting, the constituency ,
DOW must represent is far brOader than this in its interests and concerns. My:."...
message was intended to b~ one of support for the difficult balancing act the now
managers are expected to perform. These survey results confirm CWF's position --

Combining Conservation and Education

@

7475 Dakin St, Suite 137 Denver, Colorado 80221 [phone] Fax [phone]