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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />leave these fish in greater peril than they were when originally listed," said Nikolai Ramsey, <br />program officer at the Grand Canyon Trust. <br />The humpback chub, one of four endangered fish found only in the Colorado River and <br />existing there for the last 2 million years, is sliding toward extinction in Grand Canyon. Between <br />1982 and 2001, their population has declined from 7,500 to 1,100 adults-a stunning 85 percent <br />decrease in population size. The Recovery Goals for humpback chub defines their population as <br />recovered at 2,100 adults. "That number is unacceptably low," said Jay Tutchton, attorney for <br />Earthjustice. "The Fish and Wildlife Service's new 'recovery' goal is a feel-good fairy tale <br />based not on sound science, but political expediency and the desires of powerful special <br />interests." The dramatic decline in the abundance ofthis fish in Grand Canyon has been detailed <br />in a recent study, "Current Status and Trends for humpback chub (Gila cypha) in Grand <br />Canyon," by the Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center's Biological Sciences Program. <br />Ten years after Congress passed the Grand Canyon Protection Act in 1992, critical <br />natural resources, inCluding the humpback chub, on the Colorado River within Grand Canyon are <br />in serious decline. Habitat changes created by Glen Canyon Dam and the proliferation of <br />nonnative fish are the primary suspects in the dramatic decline of the humpback chub in Grand <br />Canyon. The chub evolved over eons in relatively warm, sediment-rich waters in a system prone <br />to both flooding and drought. Water releases from Glen Canyon Dam are cold and clear, <br />creating unfavorable habitat conditions for the humpback chub and favorable habitat conditions <br />for the chub's nonnative predators. <br />"Concerning the state of the resources on the Colorado River in Grand Canyon, the <br />humpback chub is just the tip ofthe iceberg," said Ramsey. "Four native fish are already <br />extirpated; the humpback chub is about to become number five. And sediment, essential for <br />building beaches and sustaining other important river resources, is also in serious decline." <br />"It is critical that these endangered fish get Recovery Goals actually supportive of their <br />recovery," said Barnard. "We will fight in court in order to save these valuable native Colorado <br />River fish and restore the Grand Canyon to health." <br />Grand Canyon Trust protects and restores the canyon country of the Colorado Plateau. <br />For more information and background, visit www.grandcanvontrust.or~. <br />Earthjustice works through the courts to safeguard public lands, national forests, parks, <br />and wilderness areas; to reduce air and water pollution; to prevent toxic contamination; and to <br />preserve endangered species and wildlife habitat. Visit www.earthiustice.org. <br /> <br />2 <br />