ALP 3

Contents
Of the 23 nonnative fish species found in the San Juan River Basin, 21 nonnative fish have been
documented in the Basin since 1987. In addition to the nonnative fish species found in the
Animas River by Valdez (2008); black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus), white crappie (P.
annularis), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), Northern pike (Esox lucius), smallmouth bass
(Micropterus dolomieu), striped bass (Moron saxatilis), threadfin shad (Dorosoma petenense),
golden shiner (Notemigonus crysoleucas), red shiner (Cyprinella lutrensis), sand shiner
(Notropis stramineus), plains killifish (Fundulus zebrinus) and kokanee salmon (O. nerka) are
also found in the San Juan River Basin. Nonnative salmonid species are typically found only in
reservoirs and in cooler reaches of the San Juan River and in , hi upper tributaries. Black crappie,
golden shiner, and kokanee salmon are almost exclusively ho i?cl in Navajo Reservoir and
Northern pike, striped bass, threadfin shad, and white crappie are almost exclusively found in the
San Juan River arm of Lake Powell. Black bullhead,',Nuegill, greert "sunfish, largemouth bass,
smallmouth bass, plains killifish, sand shiner an
dh'ite sucker are considered rare and are not
generally well distributed and never have been numerous. Fathead minno'c, red shiner, and
mosquitofish are common in the San Juan River And ;are found in low - velocity habitats but are
generally not numerous. However, channel catfish and comrnfln carp are abundantpnerally
well distributed and typically numer604 ( SJRIP Final Prue Document 2010).
In addition to the nonnative fish identified by Valdez (2008) and..the SJRIP in the San Juan River
Basin, Brooks et al. (2000) found coho 941mon ((7 ;k£ Ich), brook -trout (Salvelinus fontinalis),
flathead catfish (Pylodk4s vlivaris), grass ap (Cten_0hgyngod6`r J&11a), longnose sucker (C.
catostomus), Iowa d 'ter (E eza ) yellow perch (P,0 ,flave ens), walleye (Stizostedion
vitreum), and pumpkinseed sunfish'(L. gibbost4) W, inhabit the b in through 1987 -1997 fish
collections and through historical + t lorado data by- ;.Anderson et al. (1993). Coho salmon,
yellow perch and walleye' i?vere. A► ,At din resert?b rs and brook trout only in cool high
mountain sitreatns - 13rQoks et al: (2000) alsi found that native fish numerically dominated the
mam tom fish commut'_,y and thaf,small- bodied donnative fish were more abundant in
seconilt r ± channels and 10W- velocity habitats. Brooks et al. also identified red shiner, common
ca and channel cathfshas nonnative species that were relatively common in
the warmwat I teaches of the t i instem and that channel catfish were the only widely distributed
pis civore. The ittitbduction of nnel catfish into the basin was first documented in 1957 and
was sporadically stored mtoiriver by the USFWS and the New Mexico Department of
Game and Fish until thecarly I80's. Common carp and channel catfish were identified as the
primary large- bodied probl €rriatic fish species negatively impacting native species reintroduction
(Brooks et al. 2000).
Most of the nonnative fish species in the San Juan River Basin were intentionally introduced
through the years by federal, state, and tribal game and fish agencies to establish recreational
food fisheries while others became established through bait bucket release, angler release, or
accidental release through stocking. In New Mexico and Utah, stocking of nonnative warmwater
fish species has been discontinued, but nonnative salmonids are still stocked in suitable habitats
Page 9