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<br />I, <br />~I <br />I <br /> <br />6 <br />METHODS <br /> <br />Information from 133 papers about interactions between native and nonnative fishes <br />in the upper basin was categorized based on the above outline from Taylor et al. (1984). <br />When applicable, related information from the Lower Colorado River Basin (lower basin) <br />or other drainages was included. Although the focus was on interactions with endangered <br />species, interactions with other native fishes were included Only warm-water species were <br />considered; coldwater, native trouts and their introduced relatives were not discussed <br />because upper basin endangered fishes are not usually found in sympatry with coldwater <br />fishes. <br /> <br />Another source of information existed in the accumulated experience of biologists and <br />other fishery professionals working within the Colorado River Basin. Their perspective of <br />the issue was obtained to supplement the literature review. This included their knowledge <br />of relevant unpublished data or in-house agency reports not readily available. A <br />questionnaire concerning the issue of impacts of nonnative fishes on native fish was <br />developed to acquire related information from sources of biological expertise present in the <br />Colorado River Basin (Appendix A). This approach was a modified Delphi technique for <br />acquiring consensus from existing experts in a particular field (Zuboy 1981). The approach <br />used here departed from that described in Zuboy (1981) because the objective was to query <br />biologists and look for consensus on various aspects of the issue. <br /> <br />A draft questionnaire was developed and circulated among members of the Recovery <br />Implementation Program Biology Committee in January 1990 for comment. The finalized <br />questionnaire included participant background information and 17 questions. It was sent <br />24 April 1990, to 40 persons in Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada <br />representing fish management and endangered fish research expertise in the Colorado <br />Division of Wildlife (CDOW), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), New Mexico <br />Game and Fish Department (NMGF), Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGF), U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR), National Park <br />Service (NPS), Colorado State University (CSU), University of New Mexico (UNM), Arizona <br />State University (ASU), and Bio West, Inc. A reminder notice with questionnaire was sent <br />24 September 1990, to non-respondents. Responses from participants were compiled for <br />background data and consensus or majority opinions for each question were identified. <br />