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<br />for Colorado and Wyoming.. In Colorado, 20 to 30 populations that were founded many years ago <br />from Trappers Lake stock await a final determination on the genetic purity of that stock before their <br />status in conservation planning can be assessed. The issues surrounding a method for measuring <br />viability or stability of the different populations also need to be resolved. However, there is no <br />doubt that significant conservation actions must be implemented to prevent further decline of this <br />fish. <br /> <br />In 1996, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric <br />Administration proposed and adopted policy rules that influence a status assessment and <br />conservation of Colorado River cutthroat trout: 1) The proposed Policy on the Treatment of <br />Intercrosses and Intercross Progeny (the issue ofhybridization)(50 CFR Part 424, 61 FR 26), and <br />2) the Policy Regarding the Recognition of Distinct Population Segments under the Endangered <br />Species Act (50 CFR Part IV, 61 FR 26). The proposed policy in (1}has not been finalized. <br /> <br />The proposed Intercross Policy asserts that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's <br />responsibility for conserving species under ESA extends to hybrids (intercrosses) if (1) the progeny <br />share traits that characterize the taxon of the listed parent, and (2) the progeny more closely <br />resemble the listed parent's taxon than an entity intermediate between it and the other known or <br />suspected non-listed parental stock. The proposed policy also makes the distinction that it applies <br />to individuals not to populations. Populations can contain individuals that represent the protected <br />species and individuals that are intercross progeny between the protected species and another. <br /> <br />The policy regarding distinct population segments (DPS) requires that the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service consider three elements in decisions regarding the status of a possible DPS: (1) <br />discreteness of the population segment in relation to the remainder of the species to which it <br />belongs; (2) the significance of the population segment to the species to which it belongs, and (3) <br />the population segment's conservation status in relation to ESA standards for listing. This policy <br />recognizes the importance of unique taxonomic units in the conservation management of a species. <br /> <br />The application of these policies to the conservation of Colorado River cutthroat trout <br />requires that the status assessment be continued by compiling information for each individual <br />population. In this manner, the influence of hybridization and the presence of unique characteristics <br />of distinct population segments can be determined across and within the designated GMUs. It <br />follows that populations may need to be conselVed throughout the range that contain varying degrees <br />on hybridization. <br /> <br />March 1999 <br /> <br />10 <br />