Briefing Paper to Accompany the Proposed Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1997

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1996 Funding Where the money comes from Where the money goes State of Utah $95,200 1% \ State of Colorado $858,200 8.5% U.S Fish and Wildlife Service $1,124,000 11.2% Bureau of Reclamatior (regular fund: $1.956,300 19.4% Upper Basin Water Users $91,400 Wetland preserved for fish, wildlife The Bureau of Reclamation has pur- chased a 153 -acre wetland near Grand Junction, Colo., preserving valuable habi- tat for endangered fish and other wildlife in the Grand Valley. Flowing along the northern border of this marshy, wooded picturesque parcel of land is the Colorado River, which here splits into the side channels, pools and backwaters favored by Colorado squaw - fish and razorback suckers. "A high concentration of endangered fish use this area," said Pat Nelson, a biologist who heads up the Recovery Program's flood plain restoration efforts. "Now that the land has been protected, it can continue to help with the fishes' recovery for years to come" `The fact that these razorbacks sur- vived alongside these other fishes is, in my opinion, the most significant finding in the historyy of the Recovef), Program. ' — Pat Nelson Nelson hopes to identify similar wet- lands in other portions of the Colorado, Green and Gunnison rivers. As these areas are pinpointed, Recovery Program staffer Dave Soker will take the reins, offering to acquire or lease the property from individuals willing to allow their land to be used for endangered fish habitat. Razorbacks survive despite daunting odds The benefits of wetlands to native fish and the river habitat are indisputable, Reclamation it funds) 14,200 58.7% Non - native fish management $204,300 Information Research, monitoring 2.0% and education and data management $189,600 $386,000 1.9% 3.8% In- stream flow Program identification management \ and protection $1,266,300 $3,345,700 12.6% 33.2% Endangered fish stocking $2,071,800 20.6% Photo by Greg Corle Endangered fish and a variety of birds and other wildlife can continue to call this area home, now that the Bureau of Reclamation has purchased the property. Nelson says. He cites an illlustrative flood plain near Ouray, Utah, called "Old Charlie Wash," which enabled 45 newborn razor- back suckers to survive last year, despite a preponderance of non - native carp, fathead minnows, green sunfish and red shiners. The total weight of the non- native fish col- lected was a whopping 6 tons. "The vegetation in the flood plain pro- vided the cover the fish need," Nelson said. "The fact that these razorbacks sur- vived alongside these other fishes is, in my opinion, the most significant finding in the history of the Recovery Program" � Habitat restoration (wetlands, fish passage) $2,605,800 25.9% Rare fish raised in five locations Recovery Program funds have been used to build and operate five hatchery and "grow -out" facilities in Colorado and Utah. Hatchery workers breed a large number of parent fish, which creates genetically diverse offspring. Before being stocked, the fish are raised until they are 8 to 12 inches long, which should boost their survival in the wild. The hatchery facilities are: Ouray National Fish Hatchery: Established in 1987, this facility has grown to 26 ponds, with plans for 10 more. The hatchery raises razorback suckers and a small number of Colorado squawfish; future plans call for adding bonytail and humpback chub. Wahweap Endangered Fish Facility Utah's Division of Wildlife Resources maintains razorback suckers and bony - tail in five ponds on this site. Expansion in 1997 will add six more ponds. Horsethief Canyon Ponds The Bureau of Reclamation excavated these six ponds, which now are man- aged by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Colorado Division of Wildlife land. Razorbacks are raised, along with some Colorado squawfish and a hand- ful of bonytail and humpback chubs. 24 Road Hatchery This hatchery houses 36 tanks and rais- es newly hatched razorback suckers. Clymer's Pond The Fish and Wildlife Service uses this pond to raise razorbacks until they are about 8 inches long and can be stocked in the Gunnison and Colorado rivers.