7108

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7108
• Author: Johnson, J. E.
• Title: Reintroducing the Natives
• USFW Year: 1985.
• USFW - Doc Type: Colorado Squawfish and Woundfin.
• Copyright Material: YES

179
Differing Perspectives On Razorback Sucker Management
In 'The Upper And Tower ~olorndo 'fiver Basins
by
James E. Brooks
Ar i_z~.)i13 Ga~ae -tnd Fish Department
Razorback sucker, Xyrauchen texanus, has declined throughout the
~olorado River drainage and is of c~~ncarn to Eisher.y resource managers in the
Southwest. In .Tune 1935 rapresentat.ives Erum various state and federal
agencies :ind universities met t:~ discuss t`ie Status of razorback sucker and
potential m:~:lageme~tt Strategies. This session sum~nari.zes that meeting and
invites comments from the Council membershl.p re;ar.,iing management of the
razorback sucker i:) the Col,~rado River draina,~,c~.
Tile dirEering status of raz~>rback sucker. in the upper and l~~wer basins
h:is resulted in two management strategies. Upper Colorado River, Aasin
management supports reder.il listing under t,ie F,ndangered Species Act (ESA), as
amanded, :i5 a threat~_~c)ed snc~ci~s witH crir_tcal Habitat. T.isting could
provide copper basis) managers with funding (,Section 6, ';.SA) and habitat
protecr_ion (Section 7, F;SA) for studying declining razorback sucker
populations in largely unmodified river reaches. In constrast, tower basin
management is directed toward attempted reestablishment of razorback sicker in
historic range in lieu of listing. Data gathered during reintroduction and
monitoring afforts are coupled with ongoing research on persisting lower b•3sin
populations to answer questions regarding masons for decline, life history,
and recovery prospects.