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<br />002841 <br /> <br />Gunnison rivers, and some survival of these fish to adulthood has been documented. No active <br />monitoring or evaluation of these stockings were performed immediately after their release, so <br />the distribution and survival of this stocked cohort is uncertain but presumed to be low, The <br />presence of traceable, coded wire-tagged fish in association with wild fish as adults many years <br />later confmns their presence in the population, but their contribution to spawning is unknown, <br />Evidence of translocated fish in the company of resident fish during the summer spawning <br />season cannot be equated to participation in spawning. If stocked or translocated fish have <br />participated in spawning with wild fish, the wild genome has already been affected, <br /> <br />Similar to recommendations made by Burdick and Bonar (1997) for razorback sucker <br />stocking, every effort will be made to place Colorado squawfish in locations and habitats that <br />will enhance the probability of the fish remaining in the target reach. If the stocked fish leave <br />the target reach en masse, regardless, then stocking of that size fish in that season would be <br />discontinued, Given past experience, it is unlikely these downstream-displaced fish would <br />survive better than their wild counterparts, but the genetic compatibility of these fish with the <br />wild fish further lessens the potential risk of negative genetic results, With more rigorous <br />monitoring in place, the opportunity will be present to learn more about the movements, <br />disposition, and ultimate contribution of these displaced fish to the system, The presence of <br />adult populations of Colorado squawfish in these unoccupied river reaches will provide the <br />opportunity to assess factors such as water supply diversions, instream barriers, availability of <br />spawning habitat in associated canyon reaches, larval drift dispersal/mortality, and recruitment <br />with respect to needed recovery actions. <br /> <br />DRAFT - June 4, 1997 <br /> <br />17 <br />