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<br />002785 <br /> <br />5.3.1 Ouray Endangered Fish Culture Experiment Station <br /> <br />Ouray Endangered Fish Culture Experiment Station (EFCES) is an experimental, endangered fish <br />culture facility operated by the US. Fish and Wildlife Service on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge <br />in northeastern Utah. The facility is on the Green River about 25 miles south of Vernal, Utah. Ouray <br />arose out of an immediate need to improve the critical status of the razorback sucker in the Green <br />and Yampa River systems. Ouray remains first and foremost a primary refuge and broodstock <br />development center for razorback sucker from the Green River subbasin (Williamson 1992). <br /> <br />Three 0.2 acre earthen ponds were constructed at Ouray in 1990 for holding wild razorback sucker, <br />rearing young razorback sucker, and conducting threatened and endangered fishes research studies. <br />An additional well was drilled adding about 60 gpm of 53 0 F well water to the facilities capacity. <br />Water heaters were added which provided overwintering capability for fish and the temperature <br />control required for studies of growth and development In addition, a wet-lab and research building <br />were obtained, adding considerably to research capacity at Ouray. (US. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />I 990c). In 1991, upgrade of the hatchery effluent system was completed by installation of <br />consolidated drain lines (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1991b). <br /> <br />Based on proposals written by USFWS personnel, over one million dollars in Congressional drought <br />relief funding was obtained in 1992 to construct facilities at Ouray EFCES and Horsethief SW A <br />Over 80 percent ofthese funds were used for additional facilities design and construction at the Ouray <br />EFCES. Specifications for Ouray hatchery water supply, ponds, and miscellaneous support facilities <br />were provided by the Bureau of Reclamation in March of 1992 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1992). <br />Six wells were developed near the hatchery site which are estimated to provide in excess of750 gpm <br />on a year-round basis. <br /> <br />Six additional 0.2 acre ponds were completed in 1993. Funding during 1994 resulted in the <br />construction ofa water supply/conditioning reservoir and another six 0.2 acre ponds, installation of <br />water supply and drain lines, and modifications to an effluent pond (US. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />1995a). Ten more 0.2 acre ponds were constructed at this facility in 1995. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service 1995b) <br /> <br />Funding for 1996 resulted in the construction of two 0.2 acre and two 0.5 acre ponds, including an <br />ultra-violet light system to treat the water supply and an effluent control system (US. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service 1995c). An additional ten 0.5 acre ponds will be constructed in FY 1997 including <br />an ozone system for control offish pathogens and a filter to remove excess manganese and iron (U.S. <br />Fish and Wildlife Service 1996a). A hatchery building will be constructed. However, $700,000 in <br />anticipated funding support by the Utah Reclamation Mitigation and Conservation Commission for <br />this building was lost due to reallocation of available funds. The building will still be constructed <br />using capital funds designated for Ouray. Completion of interior work and the road leading to this <br />building will be delayed until funding is determined for FY 1998 (Czapla 1996a). <br /> <br />The propagation facilities developed or planned at Ouray through FY 97 is illustrated in Table 5.3-1. <br /> <br />25 <br />