7810

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7810
• Author: Stempel, M. and R. S. Wydoski.
• Title: Draft Environmental Assessment, Guidelines For Disposition Of Captive-Reared Endangered Fish.
• USFW Year: 1995.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

Black Rocks and Westwater Canyons of the Upper Colorado River were
considered to be at catastrophic risk from hazardous materials if a train
were to derail from the railroad track that is located in these canyons.
2. Research and Development. Research and development are vital to provide
pertinent information for making intelligent Program decisions regarding
the implementation of actions to recover the endangered Colorado River
fishes. Research is always done in a phased, logical manner to answer
specific questions, provide important information, or to evaluate
experimental efforts relative to implementation of specific recovery
strategies.
Propagation is particularly important in providing experimental fish for
studies related to identification of ecological requirements by life
stage, interactions with non-native fishes, homing (i.e., olfaction and
chemoreception studies), habitat use, fish passage, taxonomy, anatomy,
and physiology.
3. Information and Education. Specimens of endangered fish that are
maintained in aquaria can be used in public relations programs and to
educate the public about the ecological requirements of the fish, reasons
related to their status as "endangered", efforts being taken to recover
these native fishes and the relationship of recovery efforts to water
development in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
Specimens of the endangered fishes would add substantially to
environmental education programs. For example, the Service funded the
development of an environmental education curriculum guide "Rivers at
Risk" for teachers in grades kindergarten through 12 during 1993. The
35-page curriculum is composed of 9 activities to educate students about
the Colorado River ecosystem that emphasizes the relation between water
development and the endangered fishes. Copies of this curriculum were
printed through the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Program and
distributed to Project Wild coordinators in Arizona, Colorado, New
Mexico, and Utah. Such educational experiences would be greatly enhanced
if the students could actually see the fish when water development in the
Colorado River basin is being explained in relation to the uniqueness of
the endemic fishes in this basin.
As natural ecosystems are altered to serve human needs, endemic or native
species are often adversely affected. Indeed, many native fishes in
southwestern United States have been drastically affected and some are
now extinct from human-induced habitat alterations. The American public
loses part of its natural heritage when natural systems are altered.
Often the decline in animal numbers and species results from the lack of
human sensitivity and understanding of the impacts from various
developments on fish and wildlife and their habitats. Information and
education programs can increase the sensitivity and understanding of the
public and water users to the relationship of the ecological requirements
of endangered species to water development.
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