8063

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8063
• Author: Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council.
• Title: Minutes, Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council - April 22-23, 1998.
• USFW Year: 1998.
• USFW - Doc Type: Las Vegas, Nevada.
• Copyright Material: NO

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which is
The FWS region in the upper Basin,
responsible for plan preparation, has met with the Lower
Basin and agreed to send the plan to them and discuss and ,
resolve whatever issues are important by August or September
1998. Many reviewers felt the plan concentrated on the
Upper Basin, and did not go far enough including Lower Basin '
fish populations in consideration, or treat the full range
of recovery actions there, and did not consider the smaller
tributaries in recovery, or the several conservation efforts
now underway in the Lower Basin. There is also concern that
the plan does not focus money or other resources
sufficiently to be practical. Concern was voiced regarding

there not being any habitat goals, only population goals. '
Several in the meeting wanted to know, given the
history of involving stake ho lders in the recovery planning
for other s pecies, was there any plan to involve stake
holders in this job. The FWS has no plans to so involve

people with
this effort. The
recovery teams have worked ,
with others at that level, an d FWS lacks funds to proceed
any further and still get the final plan accomplished,
especially if changes were to result in another whole
process of reviews.
In response to an offer by the FWS to conduct a ,
meeting in the Lower Basin where biologists would be able to
discuss what they think should be in the Razorback Recovery
Plan, it was agreed that something needs to happen to get ,
biologists together with FWS and certainly Mr. Tyus before
the final plan. Following considerable discussion, Mr.
Hammel offered to lead a meeting in the Lower Basin, as a '
forum to discuss Lower Basin Razorback Sucker Recovery Plan
issues and iron out Upper and Lower Basin Concerns, within
the next two months. Thereupon Mr. Meisler agreed to host ,
such a meeting. The Council members each went on record
supporting such a meeting.
The Council assigned Joe Janish to draft a letter to
the Regional Directors, Regions 2 and 6, asking for the FWS
people to hold a meeting to address the issue, and
indicating the Council's concern to expedite, and
reinforcing the Council's positions and expectations for a
plan in June 1998.
Council members indicated that they would be looking
for resolution of the Razorback Sucker Recovery Plan next
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