Laserfiche WebLink
<br />002790 <br /> <br />6.2 Bony tail Chub <br /> <br />Stocking efforts associated with the bonytail chub have been minimal. In an attempt to study bonytail <br />habitat use, movement, and survivorship, an experimental stocking project was conducted in 1988. <br />Over the period of this study, a total of86 bonytail were surgically implanted with radio transmitters <br />and released into the Green River in Dinosaur National Monument (Lentsch et at. 1996). Documented <br />mortality of these fish was 74.5 % but was expected to be higher (Lentsch et at. 1996). <br /> <br />In 1993, the development ofa bonytail reintroduction plan was initiated. The overall goal of this <br />study was to determine how to address the issue of reintroducing bonytail chub into the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin. The specific objectives of the plan were to (I) develop a bonytail chub <br />reintroduction plan, (2) determine the optimum size for stocking bonytail chub, (3) evaluate the role <br />of non-native interactions on the successful stocking ofbonytail chub, and (4) evaluate the role of <br />raceway-extensively cultured bonytail chub in a successful stocking program. <br /> <br />Later in 1993, 300 bonytail were transported from Dexter NFH to Utah State University (USU) to <br />investigate the hypothesis that bonytail raised in pond environments would not develop the <br />appropriate tail muscle morphology to allow successful reintroduction into a large flowing stream. <br />Another investigation was started involving the feeding preferences of bonytail and the effect of non- <br />native pressure, red shiners, on feeding habits and habitat selection. (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <br />1993) <br /> <br />In .1994, the results from the experiments discussed above showed significant physiological responses <br />ofbonytail to flow training. Red muscle fibre diameter increased significantly. The bonytail preferred <br />high velocity waters close to the substrate. The presence of red shiners forced the bonytail to use <br />low velocity habitats resulting in significant decreases in feeding efficiencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife <br />Service 1995a). <br /> <br />6.2.1 Bony tail Reintroduction Plan <br /> <br />A draft of "Bonytail Reintroduction Plan for the Upper Colorado River Basin" was submitted in <br />1995. Additional investigations were conducted regarding the effects of flow training on bonytait. <br />The final draft was submitted in March of 1996 (Lentsch et at. 1996). Included in this final draft was <br />an experimental stocking plan which included detailed outlines regarding the following: <br /> <br />. first year spawning from broodstock <br />. source of brood stock <br />. number offish to be released <br />. size of fish to be released <br />. condition of fish when released <br />. time and location of release <br />. monitoring of stocked fish <br />. evaluation of first year stocking efforts <br />. evaluation of stocking efforts for second year and beyond <br /> <br />30 <br />