7990

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7990
• Author: Tyus, H. M.
• Title: Razorback Sucker ‎(
• USFW Year: 1997.
• Copyright Material: NO

PREFACE
The Colorado River of the American West supports an endemic mainstream fish
community that is classified as the "Big River" fishes. Four of these fishes are listed as
endangered under provisions of the Endangered Species Act. Three have been listed
for over 10 years. These three fishes have recovery plans that were prepared prior to
designation of critical habitats and the formation of recovery implementation programs.
A fourth fish, the razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus was listed in 1991. Critical
habitat for all four fishes was designated by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1994.
The listing of these four fishes, and the potential endangerment of others suggest
that this large river ecosystem is at risk. When such major environmental problems
exist, present policy and philosophies have resulted in the decision to consider the
recovery of more than one species, and thus to prepare multispeces or ecosystem
recovery plans. The razorback sucker recovery plan has been prepared in the spirit of
this philosophy and is different in format and content than previous recovery plans for
the other three listed fishes (i.e., Colorado squawfish Ptychocheilus lucius, humpback
chub Gila cypha, and bonytail G. e/egans). In order to relate recovery options to an
aquatic ecosystem perspective, the razorback sucker recovery plan includes specfic
information about recovery of this species throughout its range. In addition, the
recovery plan has been drafted more as a strategic plan to allow flexibility in its
implementation. Presently, recovery of the fish is being accomplished by formal
recovery implementation programs in important areas of its range. It is anticpated that
these recovery implementation programs will develop very site-specific work plans
under the broad guidance provided in the razorback sucker recovery plan.

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