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PURSUING A SPORTFISHBRY FOR BNDANGBRBD COLORADO SQUAk'FISH Patrick J. Martinez Colorado Division of Wildlife 711 Independent Avenue Grand Junction, CO 81505 ABSTRACT Creation of a sport fishery for Colorado squawfish is a controversial idea that has been proposed since the species was listed as endangered. Current impetus for this activity in the Upper Basin stems from construction of Taylor Draw Dam on the mainstem White River six miles east of Rangely, Colorado. The dam, completed in 1984, created Kenney Reservoir which is a 10 km (6 mi.) long, 249 ha (615 A) impoundment having a maximum depth of 16 m (53 ft.}. The Taylor Draw biological opinion prohibited a fishery in the reservoir that would compete with endangered fishes and also required strict adherence to an inter-agency memorandum of agreement which recommended exploring the feasibility of a reservoir fishery for Colorado squawfish. Initially, the reservoir was stocked with rainbow trout, however, it does not provide favorable trout habitat due to seasonally high turbidity and warm water temperatures. Local demand for a warmwater fishery, namely largemouth bass, resulted in agency intervention to prevent unauthorized introductions of non-salmonid sport fish which are suspected in the decline of endangered native fishes. In the absence of other acceptable or viable management alternatives, Colorado squawfish became a candidate for developing a fishery in Kenney Reservoir. Because escapement over the dam appears inevitable, it is questionable if a highly migratory species, such as Colorado squawfish, will remain in the reservoir. A major issue concerns introduction of hatchery reared squawfish into a river system where wild fish exhibit extensive migrations related to reproduction that may depend on early life cues. Further, mixing genetic stocks from different sub-basins via stocking has been scrutinized. It is anticipated that Colorado squawfish will have to exceed the maximum length attained by the similar, more common roundtail chub, 450 mm (18 in.), to provide fishermen with a distinctive product. Available information indicates that it may take 6-8 years to produce squawfish this size under temperature regimes in the Upper Basin. Colorado squawfish are readily caught with bait and artificial lures; however, they do not appear to be spectacular gamefiah. Ristoric information suggests that squawfish, nicknamed "white salmon" by early settlers, offer excellent table fare, possessing both good flavor and texture. Illegal take of squawfish in other areas and fisherman acceptance of squawfish will be addressed though a vigorous information and education program. While circumstances surrounding this endeavor, including location, biology of the species, and current public atmoshere, do not portray a promising scenario, stocking of Colorado squawfish into Kenney Reservoir is scheduled for 1987/88. Bfforts will be made to stock squawfish acquired from White River brood fish to minimize potential biological artifacts of artificial propagation and inter-basin genetic differences. The situation will be monitored to provide an evaluation of this endangered cyprinid as a sport fish.