Quantity/Quality/Wildlife Meeting January 5 1995

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trout- This recovery progress has been accomplished in large part with other federal, state and private funding, as availability of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service funding support diminished with improved species' status. DOW has complemented limited federal funding for the greenback recovery with GO Colorado lottery funding. On the federal level, DOW is actively participating in the recovery programs for four fish species that occur in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River basins, including the Colorado River squawfish, the razorback sucker, humpback chub, and the bonytail chub. The annual operating budget of the Upper Colorado River program is about $3.5 million excluding capital construction projects and the Division contributes up to $700,000 for in -kind administrative and management personnel services. DOW's participation in the San Juan program is limited to technical committee participation at this time, but still requires up to $50,000 in personnel time annually. On the state level, DOW has committed $158,000 in 1994 to the implementation of recovery programs for the two state - listed amphibians, the boreal toad and wood frog; and the two state - -listed fishes, the Arkansas darter and Rio Grande sucker. With in -kind support from regional, research, and hatchery staff, the total start -up commitment to implement the boreal toad recovery program exceeded $200,000 in 1994. Current results of wood frog surveys suggest potential delisting of this species by 1997, assuming an aggressive recovery program in undertaken at the state level. In March 1994, the Wildlife Commission approved a new Long Range Plan which stated that the mission of the Division is "to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state and provide people the opportunity to enjoy them." The plan provides direction for the Division to carry out that mission over a 15 -year period. The long -term goals of the plan include: • Protection of wildlife and wildlife habitats; • Wildlife- related recreation (fishing and hunting); • Wildlife- related education and information; • Responsive management. Of these goals, protection of wildlife and wildlife habitats directly relates to the proposed native species protection initiative. DOW believes that habitat loss is the greatest threat to wildlife. DOW also believes that cooperative partnerships with landowners, land management agencies and others at all levels are necessary to provide for the future of Colorado's wildlife and wildlife habitat. 12