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<br />002i54 <br /> <br />of propagation facilities, only 282 11-16 inch razorback suckers were stocked into the Gunnison <br />River at Delta, Colorado on October 4, 1996. None were stocked in the Colorado River in 1996. <br /> <br />An experimental stocking plan for razorback sucker was developed in 1995 for the Middle Green <br />River. The goal of the updated plan was to increase the number of adult razorback suckers in the <br />Middle Green River from the existing aging and declining population of approximately 500 to a <br />population of 1000 fish by the year 2000 to prevent extinction. The initial goal of 1,000 adult fish <br />is not a recovery goal. The total number of razorback suckers that are expected to survive to the <br />years 2000 and 2001 from the stockings in 1996 and the proposed 1997 stocking is 331 fish. A much <br />higher rate is needed to achieve the goal of 1,000 adults in the year 2000, given that the existing <br />population is experiencing mortality. Given existing facility limitations, the goal of 1,000 adult <br />razorback suckers in the Middle Green River by the year 2000 will likely not be met <br /> <br />Facility Needs for Lar\!e-Scale Stockinl: <br /> <br />The needs associated with large-scale, restoration stocking of hatchery-reared endangered fish to <br />augment wild stocks have not been defined. To gain an understanding of the impact large-scale, <br />restoration stocking efforts would have on the available propagation facilities, an estimate was made <br />of the pond space that would be required to rear varying quantities of adult fish. The quantities were <br />detennined by varying the density of adult fish per river mile within the designated critical habitat for <br />each species. Using razorback sucker survival rates, an estimate of the number of I-year old fish <br />necessary to produce the varying adult densities was determined. Additional assumptions found in <br />the Coordinated Hatchery Facility Plan allowed estimates to be made of the pond space that would <br />be required to rear the I-year old fish. <br /> <br />These estimates indicate that available propagation facilities are insufficient to support a large-scale <br />stocking effort for all four species. The total amount of pond space available at Ouray EFCES, <br />Horsethief SW A, and Wahweap SFH, including proposed construction during FY 1997, is 19.05 <br />acres. As the restoration stocking density offish per river mile is increased, the estimated pond space <br />requirement approaches and surpasses the available pond space; with an estimated 22.0 acres of pond <br />space required to satisfY an adult fish density of 40 fish per river mile for all four species. The pond <br />space required for restoration stocking efforts would be met mostly through additional pond <br />construction, as the existing pond space is needed for maintenance of existing brood stocks and other <br />research requirements. Additional pond space is also needed for brood stock development and <br />refugia. No estimate of these space requirements is available. Therefore, the total deficit in pond <br />space needed for brood stock and augmentation is unknown. The Recovery Program does not have <br />a defined plan and schedule to meet these needs. <br /> <br />Assessment of Recovery Program Accomplishments with Respect to Recovery Plan <br /> <br />Recovery Plans developed for the Colorado squawfish, bonytail chub, and humpback chub include <br />propagation and genetics management elements. The assessment of the Recovery Program's <br />accomplishments with respect to those elements is provided below. <br /> <br />x <br />