9594

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9594
• Author: Colorado Division of Wildlife and e. al.
• Title: Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

(3) Lake Management Plans and stocking proposals, that have been
previously approved or are evaluated and accepted under these
Procedures, may be reviewed at any time by mutual agreement of
the Service and the State wildlife agency to insure
compatibility with recovery objectives. Approved Lake
Management Plans and stocking proposals will be reviewed every
five years (see Section X).
(4) Any party may petition the appropriate State wildlife agency
to review an approved Lake Management Plan or stocking proposal
based on new information that was not previously considered in
the development or evaluation of the proposal.
Black crappie/bluegill/largemouth bass: These species are not well
adapted to riverine environment and do not appear to establish
self-sustaining populations in rivers upon escapement. However,
there is concern that these species will flourish in flooded
bottomland habitats that are being reconnected with Upper Basin
rivers.
Triploid grass carp: Grass carp have been introduced into the
United States as a vegetation control. Only certified triploid
grass carp are being used in the Upper Basin, because they lack the
ability to reproduce. This allows their numbers and distribution
to be controlled. Very few triploid grass carp have been captured
in the river from past stocking in isolated ponds. Grass carp are
not known to prey on other fishes, but can alter habitats of other
fishes by changing vegetation
Because of the expense in obtaining
.
these fish, stocking in areas where escapement is possible is
highly unlikely.

4. Isolated public and isolated private waters, having no connection
to the river, that are above the 50-year floodplain can be
routinely stocked with largemouth bass, black crappie, bluegill,
mosquitofish, and triploid grass carp.
Mosquitofish: Routine stocking of mosquitofish is restricted to
isolated ponds and reservoirs outside the 50-year floodplain
because they are aggressive omnivores that have been associated
with negative impacts on native fish species in the American
Southwest. Mosquitofish are currently common (as a result of
stocking) in habitats used as nursery areas by endangered Colorado
River fish.
5. Isolated public and isolated private waters, having no connection
to the river, that are above the 6,500-foot msl (Appendix D) and
above the 100-year floodplain can be routinely stocked with fathead
minnow and channel catfish in addition to those species approved
for above the 50-year floodplain.
Fathead minnow: Routine stocking restricted to waters outside of
the 100-year floodplain with no connection to the river is based on
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