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IV.AA.d.(1) Upper Colorado River IV.B. Conduct annual fish propagation activities. IV.B.I. IdentitY feed needs for genetic stock refugia, research, augmentation, and information and education. IV.B.2. Produce an Annual Propagation Operation Plan. IV.B.3. Conduct NEPA compliance and develop biological opinion on disposal of excess captive- reared endangered fish. IV.C. Operate and maintain facilities. IV.C.!. Ouray IV.C.2. Horsethief(Grand Valley Endangered Fish Facility) IV.CA. Wahweap IV.E. Plan, design, and,construct needed facilities. IV.E.2.a. Ouray expansion IV.E.2.b. Wahweap III. BackgroundlRationale and Hypotheses An Element of the Recovery Program Four large river fishes have been designated as "endangered" under the Endangered Species Act: razorback sucker lXvrauchen texanus); bonytail (Gila elegans); humpback chub (Gila~; and Colorado squawfish (Ptvchocheilus lucius). A "Recovery Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin" (Recovery Program) was developed in 1987 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987) and implemented in 1988 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1988). One of five elements in the Recovery Program for Endangered Fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin is "native fish stocking" (U.s. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987). The goal of this element is to produce sufficient captive-reared endangered fishes for conducting laboratory and field research and to develop broodstocks with genetic diversity similar to the wild stock used as founders (Williamson and Wydoski 1994). . Captive propagation is an important part of recovery efforts for endangered fish and wildlife because it provides animals for maintaining gene pools in refuges, research and development, information and education, and stocking. The Biology Committee recognizes that stocking is an important fishery management tool that has a defmite and useful function. However, this tool is not a substitute for removing or significantly reducing factors that are limiting natural recruitment of the endangered fishes. The roots of modem fishery management began with fish culture and became considered to be a universal panacea (Radonski and Martin 1986). This belief changed to one in which rational application of stocking, protocol can be useful and practical in the recovery of endangered fishes with proper planning and implementation. Noble (1986) clearly articulated that the goals, objectives, and criteria must be thoroughly considered in development of stocking plans. These plans wiII be developed by thoroughly considering questions such as: Why stock? What presumptive stock should be used? What are the genetic risks in stocking? What number? What size? What quality? Where and When? and For how long? (Heidinger 1993). Stocking of endangered fishes in both the upper and lower basins has not been very successful because of poor survival of the fish after release. Therefore, the approach to be used by the Recovery Program will be the adaptive management approach where field experiments will be evaluated and adjustments or refinements made as needed to achieve the objectives of the experimental stocking (Boyce 1993; Ludwig et al. 1993; Walters and Hillbom 1978). Recoverv Program Philosophv and Goals Regarding Genetics Management The Recovery Program's philosophy is to maintain the genetic integrity of wild and captive-reared endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin to prevent irreversible losses of genetic diversity that may result from management interventions or lack of action. The Recovery Program's genetics management objectives are:, I. To prevent immediate extinction of any endangered Colorado River fish stocks. OS/22/98 2