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

Introduction
The Colorado River Wildlife Council, the coordinating organization for Colorado River basin
state wildlife Agencies, initiated in 1995 a basin-wide assessment of the status of, and level of
knowledge on, several native, sensitive but non-listed, non-game fish species which have
distributions encompassing more than one basin state. The long-range goal of this assessment
project was to develop cooperative, rangewide conservation strategies and plans for those
species, with the objective of preventing future new species listings under ESA. Successful
implementation of coordinated conservation strategies among participating states should go a
long ways towards preventing such listings, reducing conflicts with other ongoing wildlife
management and recovery strategies. This assessment, coordinated by the State of Utah, was
finalized in early 1997 and has been a useful tool for identifying gaps in species knowledge and
areas for cooperation and coordination among member states.
As an extension of the assessment process for native fishes, the Council in 1996 identified
native amphibians as the species group of next highest concern for possible future listings.
Council representatives felt strongly that native amphibians represent a particularly large
window of vulnerability for future listing efforts, and that a better understanding of the overall
status and level of existing information on species that occur in more than one basin state will
assist all of the agencies in addressing amphibian conservation needs. Although it is probably
premature to consider developing coordinated management strategies among states for these
species at this time, a clearer understanding of their distribution and status in the basin, and of
gaps in that knowledge, will assist all of the member basin states.
Beginning in April 1997, all member states were contacted regarding information on resident
native amphibian species. A contact person in each state was provided with two items. The
first was a list of amphibian species native to the Colorado River basin which may occur in two
or more basin states. The distribution information was based only on simple range maps from
common sources. The list included some species which are presumably widespread and
common, but information was requested from each state to indicate the accuracy or inaccuracy
of this assumption, and the indicated distributions. The second attachment was a questionnaire
regarding available status and other information on individual species, and an assessment of
conservation needs.
Responses were summarized and provided to the Council in January 1998, and additional
information from Utah added to this draft. One additional species, the Western chorus frog
Pseudacris triseriata, was added to the summary as a result of multiple responses, and an
additional eight species were suggested for inclusion by the State of Arizona (see notes).
These eight species are not included in the draft summary tables since other basin states have
not yet been solicited for status information.
Once initial responses have been received from all basin states, a further draft of this document
will attempt to summarize status and general conservation needs for included amphibian
species, and provide recommendations for those species, if any, which would most benefit from
coordinated management strategies or agreements on a multiple-state or basin-wide basis.
Analysis
To be added

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