Draft Environmental Assesment and Finding of No Significant Impact Gunnision River Activities February 1995

Home Browse Search

Background Information Recovery Program The Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius) and razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) are only found in the Colorado River Basin and are listed as endangered under the 1973 Endangered Species Act. A number of factors, ranging from habitat reduction or alteration to introduction of non - native species, account for the current rarity of these species. Since 1978, the Service has maintained that a jeopardy (risk of extinction) situation exists due to these factors and due to the declining numbers of the endangered fish. The Service has concluded that timely actions should be taken to offset these factors. In response, the Recovery Implementation Program (Recovery Program) for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin was organized in cooperation with private, State, and Federal interests (Fish and Wildlife Service, 1987a). A Final Environmental Assessment on the Recovery Program was published by the Service in 1987 (Fish and Wildlife Service, 1987b). That assessment provided a general review of impacts of the Recovery Program and called for site specific NEPA compliance documents as individual parts of the program were implemented. The program is designed to recover the fish while providing for water development and use to proceed in a manner compatible with applicable State and Federal laws. So long as progress is being made under the Recovery Program, it serves as the best method of avoiding a confrontation between resource protection and water development; a confrontation that would benefit neither the native or endangered fish nor water use and development. The Recovery Program consists of five principal elements: 1. Habitat management 2. Habitat development and maintenance 3. Native fish stocking 4. Non - native species and sportfishing management S. Research, data management, and monitoring The Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP) was developed under the Recovery Program to spell out specific actions and timeframes believed to be required to recover the fish (Fish and Wildlife Service, 1993). The RIPRAP also provides a framework to measure progress toward recovery. As timeframes are met, water development will continue. Reclamation serves as the lead agency in implementing construction projects and water acquisition activities under the RIPRAP. Restoring passage for endangered fish to historic habitat in the Gunnison River and providing water to critical habitat for the fish have been identified as two high priority tasks in the RIPRAP. Accomplishing these tasks will provide a measurable increase in suitable habitat available to endangered fish and will constitute significant progress toward recovery of the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker. 7