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

• Description: Briefing Paper to Accompany the Proposed Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1997
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Basin: San Juan/Dolores
• Title: Briefing Paper to Accompany the Proposed Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1997
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

What is being done to recover the endangered fish?
Habitat management
Recovery Program funds are used to identify and
acquire adequate in- stream flows for the fish in
accordance with state water laws and interstate
compacts. Research is under way to determine how
to operate federal dams to benefit the fish.
Habitat development
Researchers are finding ways to create, protect
and improve habitat for the fish. Projects may
include developing spawning habitat and grow -out
ponds and constructing fish passageways or
"ladders" around barriers.
Stocking native fish
Researchers are developing techniques to
improve the survival of endangered fish raised in
captivity and stocked in the wild. They also are
spawning razorback suckers to be reintroduced to
the wild and used in recovery- related research.
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Non - native species and sport- fishing
Biologists are monitoring long -term population
trends in native and non - native fish species and are
studying competition between the two. Stocking of
non - native fish is limited to areas where there
appears to be no conflict with the four native fish
species. Information is being distributed to anglers
to reduce accidental taking of the fish.
Research, monitoring and data management
Recovery Program research involves making
recommendations on river flows, evaluating the
genetics of fish populations from different river
systems, developing facilities to hold rare fish in
protective ponds, evaluating behavioral differences
in hatchery and wild fish and establishing adult
brood stock for Colorado squawfish and razorback
suckers. Data from all studies are being compiled in
a centralized computer database.
Three boys pose Nsith a 17 -pound Colorado squawfish caught
in the Green River in the early 1920s.
RECOVERY PRCURAM FOR
THE ENDANGERED FISHES
'OF THE UPPER COIORAD©
The Recovery Program for Endangered Fish of the Upper
Colorado River Basin is a 15 -year program aimed at re-
establishing self- sustaining populations of Colorado squawfish,
humpback chubs, bonytail chubs and razorback suckers while
providing for new water development. The program became
official in January 1988, with the signing of an agreement by
the governors of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming; the secretary of
the Interior; and the administrator of Western Area Power
Administration.
Program participants:
• U.S. Fish & Wildlife
• Colorado Wildlife
Service
Federation
• U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
• Wyoming Wildlife
• Western Area Power
Federation
Administration
• Colorado Water Congre�;
• State of Colorado
• Utah Water Users
• State of Utah
Association
• State of Wyoming
• Wyoming Water
• National Audubon Society
Development Association
• Environmental Defense
• Colorado River Energy
Fund
Distributors Association
(With assistance from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.)
For more information, please
write: Colorado River
°s Recovery Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box
0
a 25486, Denver Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225.