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J ' I i Working for the Nature of Tomorrow.. . NATIONAL WilDLIFE FEDERATION ~ Rocky Mountain Natural Resource Center . 303/786-8001 . 2260 Baseline Rd.; Suite 100, Boulder ~O 80302 FAX 303/786-8054 . November 28, 1994 VIA FACSIMILE TRANSMISSION ~~: '~ r~- a",!<. F f:. -3vr.~ ~ .. u. Perry D. Olson, Director Colorado Division of Wildlife 6060 Broadway Denver, Colorado 80216 '..~r'l4. ;J;) Attn: NW Region LMPs .... -. -('''-rOCo'S '.""I-r-,r,- l.h;-1~..... f , i Url-,vE Dear Mr. Olson: The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) has reviewed the proposal by the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) to stock non-native warm water species in several reservoirs in the CDOW's Northwest Region of western Colorado. The National Wildlife Federation is the nation's largest conservation organization. Founded in 1936, the Federation works to educate and assist individuals and organizations to conserve natural resources and to protect the Earth's environment in order to achieve a peaceful, equitable and sustainable future. NWF offers the following comments on your proposed stocking on behalf of its members and supporters. NWF has three general comments about the stocking proposals and suggests the CDOW include these factors in any decisions regarding stocking of non-natives, even if more information is necessary prior to making the final decision. First, we are aware several of the proposed stocking proposals may occur in reservoirs within the 50-year floodplain. We suggest all proposals to stock these reservoirs be tabled until the 50-year floodplain can be delineated. Should a stocking be proposed outside of the 50-year floodplain, the Interim Stocking Procedures could apply. However, within the 50-year floodplain, a detailed proposal should be evaluated. Many of the proposed reservoirs-may be outside this delineated floodplain and we would concur with the stocking procedures. Second, we recommend the CDOW fully evaluate the use oi-fish screens on all the proposed reservoirs to reduce the opportunity of escape. Several different types of screens may need to b~ used on the different reservoirs, but it is a technique that. ." should be evaluated and implemented wherever possible. :' :.: " Finally, NWF recognizes the interest of sport anglers in'~ diverse sport fishing resource in Colorado and the species proposed for stocking are recreational species. However, we are . concerned that no data are presented in the proposal to document the need for the proposed action. Is there sufficient (or any)