7428

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7428
• Author: Tyus, H. M.
• Title: Management of Native Warmwater Fishes of the Upper Colorado River.
• USFW Year: 1990.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

sucker eggs and fry has been reported by others, and implicated in the lack of
recruitment for this species (Marsh and Langhorst 1988, Marsh and Minckley
1989).
Introduction of channel catfish, northern pike and other fishes into the
Green River has had an unknown effect on native fishes (Tyus and Beard 1990,
Tyus and Minckley 1988, Tyus and Nikirk 1990. Much has yet to be done in the
laboratory and field to evaluate :specific interactions.
Research, Monitoring, and Data Management ~o ti~`'~`'~
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The development of management programs for Colorado River fishes will ~., ` o~
require well-organized and applied research to .develop and test management- ~\Z~`
related hypotheses. Monitoring of management practices is a s a Q~~
follow-up on research findings, to further refine management options. These
programs all require an extensive database management system to organ' e, ~Q~~Lr)
store, and make available collected information. Development of th R in p ~/
1987, included provisions for regular meetings of a technical review roup, Vc°elr'z''"'
and annual review of past work in which needed studies and information are 99
prioritized, and funds are allocated, as available, to obtai 'nformation. The
Fish and Wildlife Service has been given the lead under th RIP o procee
with computerizing the extensive amounts of data collected by ederal, State
and private agencies and individuals. In addition, an annual research meeting
has been conducted by cooperators each year since the early 1980s to aid in
reducing isolationism.
Study of native Colorado River fishes is difficult and costly. Yet much
habitat alteration has been caused by construction of federal reservoirs which
produce large revenues. It is only proper that some of these funds be used to
aid in the recovery of the endemic fauna that is left, and indeed, much of the
funding for the upper basin recovery effort has been contributed by BR (about
X6.5 million; R.D. Williams, personal communication). Viewed in this light,
the cost of recovery has amounted to only a very smal] percentage of the money
produced by hydroelectric operations of mainstream dams (less than 0.059'0).
These funds have also made possible the retention of fisheries biologists in
the BR and USFWS, whose function is to conduct and manage research; cooperate
with, and foster interests in, other workers in academic and private sectors;
and to interpret and apply research results to biological conservation within
their respective agencies. Without this continued cooperation between
concerned scientists and managers, management of the Colorado River fishes `
will be impossible.
CONCLUSIONS
Effective management practices have not been developed for native
Colorado River fishes, nor have endangered fishes been recovered. To do so
will require many years of costly and intensive research and management work.
However, the Recovery Implementation Program of the upper Colorado River basin
is assisting the development and testing of management practices for them.
This has been made possible funds that are provided by a coalition of federal,
state, and private agencies and interests, who wish to recover listed
endangered fishes and at the same time allow for some water development. It is,
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