WSPC05284

• File Number: 8240.200.10.H
• Description: Colorado River Threatened-Endangered - UCRBRIP - Program Organization-Mission - Stocking
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Water Division: 5
• Date: 1/17/1997
• Author: Pitts and Cook
• Title: Propagation and Stocking Activities of the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin - Summary-Status and Assessment - Draft - 01-17-97
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

002774

Development of Middle Green River razorback sucker brood stock at Ouray during FY 1997 will be
limited to no more than 6-8 family lots, due to the lack of intensive culture facilities and limited pond
space (Pruitt 1996b). An excessive demand is being placed on the facilities at Ouray due to
contribution offish from various Recovery Program areas (pruitt 1996a). This continuous demand
on space has resulted in caring for more fish than the facility, at its current capacity, can handle. Fish
held at too high a density are more vulnerable when exposed to pathogens (Biology Committee
1996). Losses due to disease and stress can be expected. With the decision not to build a rearing
facility at Craig, Colorado, the need for a backup refugia still exists and would alleviate some of the
space requirements at Ouray. Facilities at Wahweap SFH are likely to serve as the backup refuge for
the Middle Green razorback sucker.

Colorado River Presumotive Stock: Between 1990 and 1994, adult razorback sucker from Upper
Colorado River, Etter Pond in the Upper Colorado River, Colorado River ann of Lake Powell, and
San Juan River ann of Lake Powell were captured and placed in ponds at Horsethief State Wildlife
Area for development of broodstock There are too few fish remaining in the wild to develop a
broodstock from the Upper Colorado River presumptive stock (Czapla 1997). The consensus of the
Genetics Panel and Upper Basin biologists during a meeting held on the razorback sucker in
September, 1994 was that the broodstock should be developed from a mixed stock (Wydoski 1994b).

Starting in 1994, due to the numbers of adult razorback, a spawning matrix was constructed
consisting of 10 females and 13 males, five of which consisted of first generation male progeny from
the.San Juan River Arm of Lake PowelL A total of34 family lots were spawned in 1994, 1995, and
1996 using this matrix with a current population of approximately 200 fish per lot. Only 8 females
and 11 males included in this original brood stock matrix are still alive (Baker 1996). Development
efforts during FY 1997 will be directed towards continuing the development of the razorback
spawning matrix with the remaining adult broodstock and with wild adult razorback suckers collected
from the Upper Colorado River, Etter Pond, Colorado River Ann of Lake Powell, and San Juan
River Ann of Lake PowelL

3.2,3 Refuge Needs for Upper Colorado River Basin

Propagation facility needs can be separated into three major categories: primary refuges, backup
refuges, and growout ponds (Wydoski 1995b). A description of each category, as outlined by Czapla
(1997), is discussed below.

Primary Re~'les: Primary refuges are intended for developing and maintaining brood stocks and for
production of endangered fish for priority research experiments. The propagation facilities at these
refuges should be able to rear pedigreed family lots of fish. Two primary refuges have been proposed
for brood stock development. For all four endangered species, Ouray EFCES will be used for Green
River stocks and the Grand Valley Endangered Fish Facility (Hatchery Building and Horsethief State
Wildlife Area ponds) will be used for Upper Colorado River stocks. In 1997, Wahweap State Fish
Hatchery in Utah may be designated as a primary refuge for the development ofbonytail broodstock
in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

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