1996 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin

Home Browse Search

Recovery Program accomplishments Below are just a few of the Recovery Program's accomplishments to date: • Bureau of Reclamation officials have helped improve endangered fish habitat by altering the timing of releases from Flaming Gorge and Blue Mesa reservoirs. These research -based releas- es enhance river habitat conditions for the fish by providing higher spring flows and lower, more stable flows the rest of the year. The amount of water affected by these changes totals 2.5 mil- lion acre -feet each year. • For the last six years, the Bureau of Reclamation has made 10,000 to 20,000 acre -feet of water available from northwest Colorado's Ruedi Reservoir for endangered fish. • The Colorado Water Conservation Board has filed for year -round in- stream flow rights for the 15 -mile reach of the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colo. The State also filed to acquire 300 cfs of unclaimed irrigation return flows in this same stretch of river and has filed for year - round endangered fish flow rights in the Yampa River. • Nearly 30 hatchery ponds have been constructed to hold and raise endangered fish — six on the Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area near Grand Junction, Colo., and 22 on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah. • Researchers installed mechanisms on a 234 -acre wetland on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge that control water levels and prevent entry by large non - native fish. In fall 1995, they discovered 28 4- to 5- month -old razorback suckers in the wetland,. proving that these fish can survive beyond the critical stage in the wild. • Researchers have begun a three -year study to evaluate the effectiveness of removing non - native fish such as northern pike, largemouth bass and green sunfish, from the Gunnison River. • Biologists have completed studies on non - native fish and potential methods of controlling these fish in Utah's lower Duchesne River. • Researchers have studied the impacts of "electro- fishing" on razorback sucker production. The scientists found that the percentage of eggs that hatched was significantly lower in "ripe" fish when exposed to the current. Based on these findings, electro- fishing over razorback spawning sites has been discontinued. • Public involvement efforts have been developed for several program activities: operation of Flaming Gorge Dam, flood plain restoration efforts, Colorado in- stream flow appropriations, coordinated reservoir operations, capital construction projects near Grand Junction, Colo., and the removal of non - native fish from the Gunnison River, among other projects. 11