7951

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7951
• Author: Boudreaux, J.
• Title: Techniques For Computing Endangered Species Mitigation For Water Development Projects In The Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1981.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

'and over: The precarious situation the fish now face can be directly
correlated to water development in the Colorado River Basin. It is the
single most important reason for the fishes' decline. A71 research to
this point supports this contention, and it is unreasonable to expect
that any future studies will uncover evidence to the contrary. What
future studies will do, however, is provide good, sound biological data
that should enhance the management plan for recovery of the fishes.
In light of the correlation between water development and the plight of
the fishes, it is logical that a~ increased depletion in the Colorado
River Basin makes management for recovery more difficult. Simply put,
water withdrawn from the basin cannot be used to manage the fish. The
timing and magnitude of flow in the basin are critical to any management
plan and may not be adequate even under present conditions, Perhaps
storage in reservoirs (through purchase of water rights or agreements
with operators of existing reservoirs) will be necessary to get the
proper timing of flows in the basin to provide optimum life cycle condi-
tions for the fish. Obviously, water withdrawn .from the basin cannot be
stored and later released for fishery management.
.. ~
The present Endangered Fishes Management Plan for the Upper Colorado
Basin is not really a plan at a]1,'but more of a collection of reason-
able concepts that could enhance the recovery of the fish, The "plan"
has the following components:
(1) Hatchery for fish culture. Construction Costs = $5,200,000
0 & M Costs = $120,000 (Figure $1,000,000 amortized)
(2) Continued Research on fish. Cost = $7,500,000