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<br />, <br />~ <br /> <br /> <br />(;,]24 ;6 <br />"I <br /> <br />United States Department of the Interior <br /> <br />FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE <br /> <br />IN REPLY REFER TO: <br /> <br />MAILING ADDRESS: <br /> <br />Post Office Box 25486 <br />Denver Federal Center <br />Denver, Colorado 80225 <br /> <br />STREET LOCATION: <br />134 Union Blvd. <br />Lakewood, Colorado 802~8 <br /> <br />RECEIV-=l"\ <br />JUl 2<r~ <br /> <br />Mountain-Prairie Region <br /> <br />ES/CR/FY-95 <br />Nonnative Fish <br />Mail Stop 65115 <br /> <br />JUL 211995 <br /> <br />Colore: <br />Conserv; <br /> <br />Dear Interested Party: <br /> <br />The draft "Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin" are enclosed for your review and comment (Enclosure I). <br />These draft Procedures were developed jointly by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service and the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. In addition, an <br />evaluation of the part of the draft Procedures regarding stocking of nonnative <br />fishes in the 50-year floodplain in the upper basin by a group of independent <br />fishery biologists (Enclosure 2) and another evaluation by a Procedures' <br />Review Team composed of representatives from the States and the Service <br />(Enclosure 3) are enclosed for your information. <br /> <br />The purpose of the Procedures is to ensure that all future stocking of <br />nonnative fish is consistent with recovery of the endangered fishes in the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin, excluding the San Juan River Basin. During 1995, <br />an interim version of the Procedures was used to evaluate 12 lake Management <br />Plans developed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife "to stock nonnative, <br />warmwater fish species in several locations of the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br />The results of the evaluation along with the comments from a variety of <br />interest groups, including environmental, water user, recreational fishing, <br />and private pond owner groups were considered in the development of these <br />draft Procedures. <br /> <br />The development of the Procedures is being done to satisfy commitments <br />outlined in the "Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species <br />in the Upper Colorado River Basin" (Recovery Program). The Recovery Program <br />was implemented in 1988 when the Governors of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; the <br />Secretary of Interior; and the Administrator of the Western Area Power <br />Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding to cooperate in recovery <br />efforts. <br /> <br />Your review and comments related to these draft Procedures will be appreciated <br />and will be considered for the next revision of the document. An <br />Environmental Assessment will be prepared on the next draft of the Procedures. <br />Currently, public meetings are being scheduled in Rock Springs, Wyoming; <br />Vernal, Utah; Craig, Colorado; Grand Junction, Colorado; and Denver, Colorado <br />to provide an opportunity for additional public input. An intra-Service <br />consultation under section 7 of the Endangered Species Act will be completed <br />on the final Environmental Assessment. A schedule of planned activities for <br />completion of the Procedures is enclosed for your information (Enclosure 4). <br />