9439

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9439
• Author: Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.
• Title: Nonnative Fish Control Workshop
• USFW Year: 2002.
• USFW - Doc Type: Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations.
• Copyright Material: NO

must monitor for downstream escapement. Monitoring at three locations (Mill Meadow
Reservoir, Fremont River, and Lake Powell) with electrofishing and gill nets has documented no
downstream escapement of tiger muskie from Johnson Reservoir. UDWR fish stocking and
transfer procedures explicitly state that northern pike are not to be stocked in Utah.
Private pond owners may also stock nonnative fishes provided they apply for proper permits,
their ponds meet minimum requirements, the species are not prohibited in Utah, and their
stocking plans are consistent with interagency agreements. Most private ponds in the basin
approved for stocking of nonnative species have been stocked with salmonids. A much smaller
number of private ponds have been approved for other nonnative species, which include mainly
bluegill, largemouth bass, and/or triploid grass carp.
Although nonnative fish policy has changed in Utah to reflect an interagency effort to recover the
endangered fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin, some waters have naturally reproducing
populations of nonnative fishes. These naturally reproducing populations are a result of stocking
practices that have been discontinued, and Utah recognizes that escapement of nonnative fishes
from these locations may impact downstream populations of native fishes. Starvation Reservoir
is an example of a Utah water that will soon undergo evaluation for nonnative fish escapement,
particularly walleye and smallmouth bass. Walleye and smallmouth bass were last stocked in
Starvation Reservoir in 1980 and 1982, respectively.
Harvest limits for nonnative, nonsalmonid fish species in the Colorado and Green rivers have
been increased by Utah in an effort to support nonnative species control and reduce impacts of
nonnative fishes on the endangered species (Table 1). These regulations have affected especially
channel catfish, bullheads, northern pike, smallmouth bass, and walleye:
The Stocking Procedures form the basis for many of Utah's current stocking policies. Appendix
A of the UDWR Fish Stocking and Transfer Procedures (effective September 24, 1997) states
that:
"Stocking of nonnative fish species will be consistent with the Procedures for
Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin - Upper
Colorado River Basin above Glen Canyon Dam (does not include San Juan sub-
basin). "
This policy applies to all stocking of nonnative, nonsalmonid species in both private and public
waters within the basin. Private pond owners wishing to stock nonnative species must apply for
a private fish pond Certificate of Registration (COR). Two minimum requirements of private
ponds must be met before a COR application will be considered:
• private ponds cannot be constructed on natural flowing streams; and
private pond inflows (except springs) and outflows must be screened.
Preliminary pond inspections are performed by UDWR personnel and ponds that do not meet
these minimum requirements will not be considered for COR approval. After the UDWR
determines that the minimum requirements have been met and the proposal is consistent with
conservation and interagency agreements (includes Stocking Procedures), the proposed species to
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