7281 ‎(2)‎

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7281
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Environmental Assessment, November 1987.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

' CHAPTER II ALTERNATIVES, INCLUDING THE PROPOSED ACTION
that any action authorized, funded, or carried out by that agency
is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of any
endangered species or threatened species or result in the
destruction or adverse modification of critical habitat. In
addition, the Federal government must enforce the provisions of
' Section 9 of the Act which makes taking of listed species illegal
unless permitted. If the Service or Reclamation suspended current

' efforts to protect the endangered fishes, it is expected that
conservationists would sue the Secretary under Section 11(g) of
the Endangered Species Act and compel resumption of
nondiscretionary protective responsibilities.
2
Alt
ti
Whi
h Will N
h
R
G
l
.
erna
ves
c
ot Accomplish t
ecovery
oa
:
e
Recovery is defined in the endangered fish recovery plans and in the
Recovery Implementation Program as maintaining and protecting self-
sustaining populations of these species and their natural habitat.
Loss and deterioration of habitat, low population numbers, and threats
from water development, nonnative species, and incidental take by
anglers are all impediments to species recovery.
a. Single-strategy alternatives. Alternatives which address only a
single facet of this multi-faceted problem will improve survival
prospects but are unlikely to accomplish recovery. At this point
' in our knowledge of these species, recovery will require research
into and actions counteracting all threats, i.e., secure habitat
of adequate quality and quantity, enhance population numbers, and
reduce threats from water development, nonnative species, and
angling. The component strategies within the Recovery
Implementation Program were evaluated, and determined incapable of
accomplishing recovery when conducted alone. Strategies which
enhanced species population numbers would not accomplish recovery
' as long as sufficient habitat was not secured, or strategies which
concentrated on securing sufficient habitat would not accomplish
recovery as long as populations were being decimated by factors
unrelated to habitat. Appendix C discusses single-strategy
alternatives further and explains why they will not accomplish
recovery.
' b. Federal action only. Under this alternative, the Federal
government would attempt to recover the endangered fishes and
manage the rare fish using Federal authorities and resources only.
' It is assumed that the States would not assist in obtaining
instream flow rights and that Colorado and Utah law would be
interpreted by the States that instream flow rights could be
acquired only by the States (Colorado Water Conservation Board,
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources). It is also assumed that
States would not be motivated to undertake a strong program to
control incidental take or problem nonnative fishes. Two
scenarios were examined:

1 II-23