8165

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8165
• Author: Czapla, T. E.
• Title: Genetics Management Plan ‎(Revised)‎.
• USFW Year: 1999.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

Colorado Pikeminnow
Green/Yampa River Stock
1. Monitor the stock periodically (3-5 years) using standard sampling methods to determine the status
of the stock and follow any. changes in the trend of this stock.
2. Determine population size estimate and its relation to interim management objectives for Colorado
pikeminnow.
Desolation-Gray Canyon Stock
1. Monitor the stock periodically (3-5 years) using standazd sampling methods to determine the status
of the stock and follow any changes in the trend of this stock.
2. Determine population size estimate and its relation to interim management objectives for Colorado
pikeminnow.
Upper Colorado River Stock
1. Continue to monitor the Colorado pikeminnow using the Interagency Standazdized Monitoring
Program (McAda et al. 1994). Determine another population size estimate and its relation to the
interim management objective for Colorado pikeminnow.
2. Continue development of a broodstock of the Upper Colorado River stock of Colorado pikeminnow
in 1999. Seventeen family lots were developed in 1991 using the breeding strategy of a 5 X 5 di-
allele cross (Williamson and Wydoski 1994). To reduce the risks of inbreeding, the 5x5 diallele
crosses should be discontinued and a 25x25 paired coatings resulting in 25 family lots for broodstock
development implemented. The 25x25 paired coatings strategy should incorporate what ever
possible from the eazlier 5x5 diallele crosses. Wild fish should be stream spawned in paired coatings
during 1999. Coordination with Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technical Center needs to be
coordinated with since they hold some of the origina15x5 diallele crosses. The broodstock will be
essential in developing fish to restore the reach from Palisade to Rifle, CO.
3. Continue to monitor the movement of Colorado pikeminnow through the Redlands fish ladder.
Before stocking Colorado pikeminnow from hatchery production the effects offish moving from the
Colorado River up the Gunnison should be thoroughly investigated, i.e., extent of use in the
Gunnison River and length of time residing above the dam.
4. Implement a stocking plan for the reach of river between Palisade and Rifle, CO. Two plans
currently exist: Burdick's (1995) plan being implemented in the Gunnison River calls for similar
number for the Palisade to Rifle reach but production shortages in fish have not allowed stocking to
occur; and CDOW's plan for the stocking of native fishes (Kesler 1998).

VIII. GENERAL RECOMMENDED GENETIC MANAGEMENT ACTIONS FOR
ENDANGERED FISH STOCKS IN THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER ,.
Four stocks of endangered fishes have been mated or will be mated to develop broodstocks from pedigree ~
family lots following the Genetic Management Guidelines (Williamson and Wydoski 1994). Established
schedules of upper basin biologists, logistics to obtain fish from other stocks, and lack of space limit the
number of broodstocks that can be developed at the present time. Therefore, priority species and stocks
were identified by the Biology Committee for development of broodstocks as described below.
Max;m;~;ng the Effective Population Size (Ne): The broodstock Ne is based on the 25x25 mated pairs,
except for bonytail (5x5) in order to have the highest genetic diversity within the propagation program.
The stocking of equal family lots has been the general process used to maximize Ne in the wild as stocked
fish are incorporated into the population. Other ways to maximize NQ in the wild need to be pursued.

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