Laserfiche WebLink
INTRODUCTION <br />Two stocking plans were developed and accepted by the Upper Colorado River <br />Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) in the late 1990's (Kesler 1998; Hudson <br />et al. 1999) to xestore and augment the populations of endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado <br />River Basin. -The development of recovery goals, which identify populations with sufficient <br />numbers of adults, to secure self-sustaining populations, resulted in the need to modify the <br />original stocking plans (Hudson 2001; Kesler 2001) to achieve the target numbers in the recovery <br />goals in a more efficient .and timely manner. <br />The purpose of this document is to identify the facilities necessary to meet the numbers of <br />production fish for bonytail (Gila elegans), Colorado pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius), and <br />razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) identified in the revised stocking plans for the State of <br />Colorado and State of Utah. In addition, maintaining the highest genetic diversity and following <br />the genetic-management guidelines (Wydoski 1995; Czapla 1999) are essential. Annual <br />Facilities Operation Plans detail the spawning, production, and distribution offish to occur in the <br />upcoming year. <br />Goal: To produce the required number and size of bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and <br />razorback sucker identified in the revised State of Colorado and State of Utah stocking <br />plans. <br />Objectives: <br />1. To meet the genetic-management guidelines goal of retaining as much genetic <br />diversity as possible. <br />2. Ta have sufficient facilities and space necessary to produce and stock the required <br />number and size of bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. <br />Assumptions. and Uncertainties <br />The hatchery managers agree that local grow-out ponds are highly variable in production <br />and do not produce as well as lined hatchery ponds. Therefore, they determined that an <br />estimate of 1,000 pounds offish per acre in hatchery ponds translates to 500 pounds of <br />fish per acre in leased grow-out ponds. Further,- the hatchery ponds at Wahweap State <br />