9547 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

PREFACE Efforts to recover populations of endangered fishes in the upper Colorado River are ~ proceeding in an environment that has been,. and is continuing to be altered by human activity. Recovery efforts for the fishes also involve many stakeholders, representing varied and .sometimes incompatible interests. These two issues: continuing change in river habitat and conflicting viewpoints among stakeholders, has made it difficult to identify and to agree on needed recovery actions. The Recovery Implementation Program for recovery of Colorado River fishes in the upper Colorado River Basin (RIP), a consortium of federal and state agencies, and private stakeholders is charged with management of the recovery effort. The RIP serves as a forum to discuss and, hopefully, to resolve conflicts between the perceived needs of the fishes and the desire for continued resource development. ~ In general terms, this report provides a review and synthesis of existing information on the life history requirements and habitat needs (physical and biological) of the endangered species comprising the big river fish community in the upper Colorado River. The review and synthesis provides a basis for evaluating recovery alternatives with the goal of promoting recovery of these endangered species through successful ~ recovery actions. It is hoped that this report will be helpful to the RIP in identifying recovery options and resolving conflicts. Subsequent to submission of an earlier version of this report in January 1998, a lengthy peer-review process was undertaken by the project sponsor. This final report incorporates that peer review in a contemporary sense (i.e., a complete rewrite to include all information that was produced after 1997 was not undertaken). In the two year period following completion of the draft report, many of recommendations provided have been addressed in some meaningful fashion. However, two major recommendations, i.e., development of a multispecies or ecosystem recovery plan, and the need to explore physical habitat modifications as an alternative to flow manipulations for improving the quality of fish habitat, have not been addressed in any substantive way. Both of these recommendations are considered critical to the recovery effort, and we hope the release of this final document will encourage further consideration of these recommendations and other findings. ~ Further information about the rare and endangered Colorado River fishes can be obtained from the Colorado River Coordinator, USFWS, P.O. Box 25486 Denver Federal Center, Denver, Colorado 80225. Project Manager for this contract was Mr. Ray Tenney, Colorado River Conservation District, P.O. Box 1120, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602. i