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<br />002746 <br /> <br />Executive Summary <br /> <br />The Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River <br />Basin (Recovery Program) is a cooperative effort involving U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. <br />Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, the States of Colorado, Wyoming, and <br />Utah, Upper Basin water users, and envirorunentalists. The Program was established in 1988 to <br />recover four endangered fish species in the Colorado River and Green River subbasins of the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin. On October 1, 1996, the program began its ninth year of operation. The <br />Recovery Program includes five elements: <br /> <br />I. habitat management, <br />2. habitat development and maintenance, <br />3. stocking of native fish species, <br />4. nonnative species and sport fishing management, and <br />5. research monitoring and data management <br /> <br />The Recovery Program recognizes that artificial propagation and stocking to increase populations <br />of native Colorado squawfish, bonytail chub, humpback chub, and razorback sucker are integral <br />components of recovery. <br /> <br />The objectives of this report are to (1) describe the role of stocking and genetics management in the <br />Recovery Program and in the individual recovery plans for the Colorado squawfish, bonytail chub, <br />and humpback chub, (2) describe the Recovery Program's accomplishments and future plans <br />concerning propagation, genetics management, facilities development, and stocking of native fishes, <br />(3) assess facilities needed to implement large-scale artificial propagation and stocking of the <br />endangered fishes, and (4) assess accomplishments of the Recovery Program with respect to <br />stocking/genetics goals stated in the recovery plans and the Recovery Program. <br /> <br />Recovery Plans <br /> <br />Prior to the initiation of the Recovery Program, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) had <br />completed recovery plans for the Colorado squawfish, bonytail chub and humpback chub. These <br />plans described stocking and genetics activities associated with the recovery of each species. The <br />Recovery Program was intended to provide for the implementation of the individual recovery plans <br />in the Upper Colorado River Basin for all aspects of recovery, including propagation and genetics <br />management. <br /> <br />Colorado squawfish: The propagation, genetics, and stocking related activities called for in the <br />revised recovery plan for the Colorado squawfish included <br /> <br />I. reintroduction of Colorado Squawfish into their historic range, <br />2. develop capabilities to produce adequate numbers of Colorado squawfish for research and <br />management, and <br />3. conduct reintroduction programs in the Upper Basin. <br /> <br />II <br />