7879

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7879
• Author: Wydoski, R. S.
• Title: Annual Propagation Operation Plan, 1996.
• USFW Year: 1996.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

closely exhibit wild fish behavior in feeding or predator avoidance
and should have better survival after being stocked into the upper
basin. Therefore, growout ponds will be used for rearing
endangered fish to be stocked into upper basin waters. The actual
area of growout ponds has not been determined because stocking
plans have not been developed for suitable habitat in the upper
basin.
VII. Permanent Propagation Facilities in the Upper Basin
The Program will have permanent propagation facilities at four sites
by September, 1996:
1. Craig Municipal Propagation Facility, Craig, Colorado
(Backup Refuge for Green River Subbasin)
2. Grand Valley Endangered Fish Facility, Grand Junction, Colorado
(Primary Refuge for Upper Colorado River Subbasin)
3. Ouray National Fish Hatchery, south of Vernal, Utah, and
(Primary Refuge for Green River Subbasin)
4. Wahweap State Fish Hatchery, Big Water, Utah
(Backup Refuge for Upper Colorado River Subbasin and
Production)
VIII. Current Propagation Efforts in the Upper Basin
A. Razorback sucker - Middle Green River Stock. Wild adult razorback
suckers (Middle Green River stock) are being maintained at the
Ouray National Fish Hatchery. Nineteen wild adult razorbacks from
the Middle Green River stock are in captivity at the Ouray
Endangered Fish Facility. Thirty-one additional wild fish are
needed to develop 25 pedigreed family lots of this stock.
Currently, four family lots from paired matings are being
maintained as broodstock.
Additional wild razorback suckers will be collected from the Middle
Green River and Upper Colorado River for continued broodstock
development during the spring of 1996. Adult fish that are
presently in captivity will be spawned to continue development of
the broodstock until 25 pedigreed family lots are produced
(Williamson and Wydoski 1994).
During 1996, up to ten wild adult razorback suckers will be
collected from the Middle Green River after the spawning season.
These fish will be held and spawned in 1997. Razorback suckers will
not be disturbed during the 1996 spawning season on Razorback/
Jensen Bar. During 1996, some wild adults that were used to
develop pedigreed family lots will be released into the Middle
Green River near the River Mile where they were collected (if
known) or in the river reach through the Ouray National Wildlife
Refuge.
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