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<br />,( <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. ' <br /> <br />4. What Is the Recovery Program for Endangered Fish? <br /> <br />The Recovery lmplementation Program for Endangered Fish Species of the Upper Colorado River Basin is a 15-year. <br />multi-agency progJalll aimed at re-establishing self-sustaining populations of Colorado squawfish, humpback chub. <br />bonytail chub and razorback sucker by the year 2003. The program became official in January 1988. with the signing <br />of an agreement by the governors of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. the secretary of the Deparunent of the Interior <br />and the administrator of the Western Area Power Administtation. <br /> <br />The purpose of the Recovery Program is to recover these four l1Ire fish while allowing water development to proceed. <br />The program complies with all applicable laws, including the Endangered Species Act, state water laws. river laws <br />and interstate water compacts. <br /> <br />The following organizations and agencies are represented on.this program: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. <br />Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Adminisuation, State of Colorado. State of Utah, State of Wyoming. <br />National Audubon Society. Environmental Defense Fund. Colorado Wildlife Federation, Wyoming Wildlife <br />Federation, Colorado Water Congress, Utah Water Users Association and Wyoming Water Development Association. <br /> <br />5. Why are the fish considered "endangered" If they can easily be raised In hatcheries? <br /> <br />Hatchery-raised endangered fish are an impoltat1t pan - but not all- of the solution. The pwpose of the <br />Endangered Species Act is to CODSelVe not only rare species of animals and plants, but also the ecosystem on which <br />they depend. Recovery goals call for "self-sustaining" populations of fish; having to stock hatchery fish on an <br />ongoing basis would not reach these goals or achieve the purpose of the Endangered Species Aa.. Currently. the role <br />of hatchery fish also is limited for the following reasons: <br /> <br />- Some biologists believe that Colorado squawfish become "imprinted" to a specific spawning site at an carty age <br />and will spawn in that site only. Unless properly imprinted, hatchery-raised squawfish may I10t know where to <br />go to spawn in the wild. <br /> <br />.:-.. Existing populations of hatchery-raised endangered fish have been bred from a very limited number of adult <br />fish. The lack of variation in their "genetic makeup" may reduce their ability to survive in the wild. Also. the <br />stocked. fish could hann wild fish populations by competing with them for food or by introducing new fish <br />diseases and parasites. <br /> <br />- In-stream flows must be maintained, and suitable habitat, such as protected baclcwaters fur young fish. must be <br />available to suppon the fish's various stages of life. Without improving the river habitat, it is unlikely that many <br />of the fish that were stocked. would survive and successfully reproduce. <br /> <br />6. How will hatchery fish be used In recovery? <br /> <br />The use of hatchery-raised endangered fish is an impoltat1t tool in the Recovery Program. Hatchery fish can be used <br />in SIl1dies that will aid the fishes' recovery. Hatchery facilities can be used to maintain captive or "refuge" <br />populations of wild fish to prevent such populations from going extinct in the event of an oil spill or other Dal11I'al <br />disaste& To help establish self-sustaining populations. hatchery-raised fish Can be stocked in stretches of river where <br />fish populations have severely dwindled or disappeared. 0 0 0 ~16 3 <br /> <br />Researchers are developing methods for "anificially imprinting" h~trt>ery fish to spawning areas in the natural river <br />environment. Also. biologists have captured small "brood stocks" of razorback suckers and Colorado squawfish from <br />the wild. These fish will be held in protective ponds or hatcheries for breeding. The Colorado Water Conservation <br />BoaId is overseeing a stUdy to detem1ine the feasibility of constructing a hatchery for all four rare fish. Biologists are <br />working to improve techniques for raising endangered fish in hatcheries. Other studies will detennine whelher fish <br />from one river are genetically different from those in another. Researchers hope that by applying the findings from <br />these studies. they will improve the chances fur hatchery-raised endangered fish to survive and reproduce in the wild. <br /> <br />3 <br />