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

the cooperation of various agencies that are charged with protection of the
fishes and management of the water upon which they depend, that will permit
the development and testing of management procedures and practices for
recovery of listed fishes, presumably to the benefit of the entire native fish
fauna. If this program is not successful, it is doubtful if most of the
native Colorado River fishes will survive.
Loss of the native Colorado River fish fauna would also be the loss of
the most unique endemic riverine ecosystem in North America (Miller 1959), and
perhaps foretell the doom of many other systems of the world as well. If the
lower Colorado River basin is indeed a model. that predicts the outcome of
water resources development, and introduction of non-native competitors, on
the upper basin (Moller 1980), the future outcome appears grim. However, the
loss of species has not been a National concern until recently, as evidenced
by the passage of the ESA less than 20 years ago. It was due to this act, and
the intensive efforts that it sparked, that we know very much about the
ecological requirements of native Colorado River fishes, and these efforts are
continuing at a fast rate.
Although recovery of the Colorado River fishes will be costly and
involve difficult research and management activities, successes in obtaining
information about the fish is encouraging. It now appears that portions of the
river and its associated environment can be saved through management efforts.
However, this can only occur through cooperative efforts of many parties that
have conflicting interests.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service and others have provided
funds and support for the development of management programs for fishes of the
Green and Colorado Rivers. I acknowledge and thank the many individuals and
agencies that have worked to conserve native Colorado River fishes.
LITERATURE CITED
Archer, D. L., L. R. Kaeding, B. D. Burdick, and C. W. McAda. 1985. A study of
endangered fishes of the upper Colorado River. Final Report. Cooperative
Agreement No. 14-16-0006-82-959. U.S. Fish Wildlife Service, Grand
Junction, CO.
•
Baxter, G. T., and J. R. Simon. 1970. Wyoming fishes. Bulletin 4. Wyoming Game
and Fish Department, Cheyenne.
Behnke, R. J., and D.E. Benson. 1983. Endangered and threatened fishes of the
upper Colorado River. Bulletin 503a. Cooperative Extension Service,
Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO
Carlson, C. A., and R. T. Muth. 1989. The Colorado River: lifeline of the
American southwest. Pages 220-239 in D.P. Dodge, editor. Proceedings of
the international large river symposium. Canadian Special Publication of
Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, 106.
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