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r, <br />f Public and private waters that have a direct connection to rivers in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin (e.g., Elkhead Reservoir, Highline Reservoir, and many <br />ponds) will be equipped or managed with an anti-escapement device or practice <br />' acceptable to the Service and the State fish and wildlife agency. Lake <br />Management Plans will be prepared or revised and approved by the Service and <br />the State fish and wildlife agency before the continued stocking of nonnative, <br />warmwater fish species will be allowed. The Program will pursue funding for <br />equipping public reservoirs with anti-escapement devices. <br />Stocking of nonnative fishes in public waters, not prohibited, that are not <br />managed in the Upper Basin at the present time will require evaluation by the <br />State wildlife agency and the Service on a case-by-case basis to ensure that <br />the proposed stocking of these fishes will not adversely affect the endangered <br />fishes. Minimum criteria for stocking will include: 1) no stocking of <br />isolated ponds within the 50-year floodplain and 2) if the water has an outlet <br />it must be screened or managed to control escapement. Stocking should be <br />"confined to areas where absence of potential conflict with rare or endangered <br />species can be demonstrated" (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987). The <br />intent here will be to address escapement potential. <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />1 <br /> <br />The States and the Service recognize that introducing new fish species, <br />including hybrids, into an ecosystem can result in unanticipated impacts on <br />native fishes. For this reason, few proposals, if any, to introduce new fish <br />species or hybrids into the Upper Basin are anticipated. Introduction of new <br />species will generally be discouraged. <br />Minimum criteria for stocking will include: 1) no stocking of isolated ponds <br />within the 50-year floodplain and 2) if the water has an outlet, it must be <br />screened or managed to control escapement. Stocking should be "confined to <br />areas where absence of potential conflict with rare or endangered species can <br />be demonstrated" (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987). <br />Proposals to stock fishes that do not presently occur in the basin will be <br />subject to case-by-case review by the State wildlife agency and the Service <br />and will include the following minimal information: <br />A. The purpose and location of the proposed stocking. <br />B. The species, numbers, and rationale for selecting the species. <br />C. The potential for escapement, the potential for survival in <br />critical habitat if escapement occurs, and control measures that <br />could be implemented to reduce the risk of escapement. <br />D. The potential for impact to threatened and endangered species and <br />the specific measures available to remedy any impacts that may <br />occur including their feasibility and likelihood of success. <br />E. A plan for monitoring the effects of stocking nonnative fishes on <br />the endangered Colorado River fishes. <br />12 <br /> <br />