8080

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8080
• Author: Beard, J. M.
• Title: Pond Removal and Stocking Procedures of Razorback Suckers
• USFW Year: 1988a.
• Copyright Material: NO

The following is a synopsis of the procedures utilized in removing
razorback suckers (Xyrauchen texanus) from rearing ponds located at Ouray
National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Utah, and the subsequent stocking of these
fish into the Green River near Jensen, Utah, in September 1988. The
information is categorized under specified headings for ease of understanding
and organization. A calendar for the month of September, 1988 is provided at
the end of this report with references to all activities involved in this
operation.
Background Information
An experimental razorback sucker facility was established in 1986 at Ouray
NWR that consists of three 1/10 acre earthen rearing ponds, a building that
houses incubators and rearing tanks, a trailer, a building for storage, and a
well. Artificial spawning techniques on wild fish that started in late April
and ended in mid-May 1987, resulted in the propagation of 3254 fry which were
stocked into 2 of the 3 ponds. In late October and early November 1987, these
ponds were seined and produced 2986 fish which were weighed and measured. In
an effort to determine the effects of overwintering on the fish, 1425 fish
were returned to one of the ponds, and the remaining fish housed indoors in
circular tanks. In mid-April 1988, the pond was seined, and the fish, along
with those from the indoor tanks, were weighed and measured. The fish from
the pond were then combined with the fish from the indoor tanks, and returned
5 back into pond #1. A total of 2576 fish were pt_into _ond_L1. In early
September 1988, pond #1 was seined, the fish weighed, measured, fin-clipped,
and subsequently stocked into the Green River in mid-September 1988.
In late April 1988, artificial spawning techniques on wild fish had again
taken place, however efforts to hatch the eggs failed. In early June 1988,'
continuing efforts to hatch eggs resulted in the propagation of 2100 fry.
In mid-June 1988, 1500 fry were released into pond #3, and 600 fry were
housed indoors for feeding trials. In mid-September 1988, pond #3 was seined,
the fish weighed, measured, fin-clipped, and consequently stocked into the
Green River in late September 1988.
In summary, fish that were stocked into the Green River from pond #1 had
been held in captivity for approximately 16 months, while those from pond #3
had been held in captivity for approximately 4 months. All references to
these propagated razorback suckers will hereafter be delineated as pond #1 or
pond #3 fish.
Pond Aquatic Vegetation Removal
Due to the large amount of aquatic vegetation within the ponds, it was
difficult to seine out fish. Thus, it was determined that removal of the
aquatic vegetation would result in more favorable seines. Aquatic vegetation
near the shoreline was removed with hand-held rakes. Initially, a single
strand of barbed wire was utilized to remove the remaining aquatic vegetation.
A person stationed on either side of the pond pulled the barbed wire through
the water along the longest dimension. After 2 to 3 "pulls" the amount of
aquatic vegetation began to drastically decrease, so a section of horse fence
was utilized. It soon became apparent that if the horse fence had barbs like
barbed wire, more aquatic vegetation would be removed. An aquatic vegetation
removal device (A.V.R.D.) was constructed using 3 strands of barred wire and
wire stays for support. The top strand was longer than the middle or bottom
strands so that it could be pulled from the top of the pond bank as the water