7411

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7411
• Author: Colorado River Wildlife Council.
• Title: Minutes, Colorado River Fish & Wildlife Council.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: April 13-14, 1987.
• Copyright Material: NO

11
0 k. Striped Bass Committee Report:
-7-
The Committee continues to investigate and monitor striper population and
status changes in reservoirs throughout the system. Committee members
continue to work on solutions of the fluctuating nature of the fisheries. At
their 1988 meeting, the Committee plans to discuss management with a member of
' the Lake Texoma (Texas) Striped Bass Project.
1. Grass Carp Policy Assignment:
Last year the Technical Committee recommended a proposal dealing with the
regulated use of triploid grass carp in the Colorado River drainage. This
. proposal was not accepted by the Council, but the Committee was requested to
remain active in monitoring the grass carp issue and keeping the Council
informed. The continued prohibition of all grass carp by the Council has
continued to generate much discussion and action. There is considerable
pressure in each state from other agencies and individuals to import some form
of the fish as a biological control to vegetation problems. Wyoming has
liberalized their statewide regulations pertaining to introduction. Colorado
has an introduction policy in place and has had varying degrees of success
enforcing on the west slope. New Mexico has a statewide program. The Lower
Basin states have all experienced many problems with introductions in one form
or another and California has large-scale "wild" populations as the result of
research in the southern deserts. With the ease of availability of all forms
of grass carp, it may be wise to inform people that there is one form fairly
safe to use rather than the fertile forms presently being released into
systems. If this policy were approved by the Council, individual states would
still remain free to elect to utilize the triploid. The policy would provide
a base for a state to fend off more liberal forms of grass carp introduction
(the policy is attached as Appendix F).
The matter was referred for later Council and Technical Committee discussion.
m. Exotic Species Introduction Assignment:
Council by-laws contain requirements for introduction of aquatic and
nonaquatic forms of wildlife into the Colorado River Basin. Last year a
policy was presented to the Council which would define the criteria proposed
introductions had to meet and an administrative pathway of action leading to
Council consideration (attached as Appendix L). If accepted
this would
,
establish a set of procedures required for any agency, individual or group
that would want to introduce a new aquatic species. The proposal retains the
Council latitude to act in emergency situations rather than waiting on a
year-to-year basis for Council meetings.
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