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<br />C) <br />(-) <br />r.' <br />co <br />(..;J <br />0": <br /> <br />CHAPTER 4: <br /> <br />PROGRAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS <br />SUMMARY <br /> <br />INTRODUCTION <br /> <br />One purpose of the 7-year research studies was determining the feasibility of recovering the two <br />endangered fishes in the San Juan River. The survival and growth of stocked razorback sucker and <br />Colorado pikeminnow, along with a generally healthy native fish community, and the ability to mimic a <br />natural hydrograph through reoperation of Navajo Dam to create, maintain, and maximize key habitats <br />indicated a high potential for restoring both species in the San Juan River. This suggests that the San Juan <br />River can be important in the recovery of the two species by supporting demographically viable <br />populations, Although limiting factor studies were the main emphasis of the 7-year research period, the <br />SJRIP had other goals and objectives. This chapter discusses the overall accomplishments of the SJRIP <br />from 1992 to 1997, using the outline of the major objectives of the LRP, and summarizes the <br />accomplishments for each objective. This summary "sets the stage" for the SJRIP's future focus, <br /> <br />DEVELOP INTERIM MANAGEMENT OBJECTIVES FOR THE <br />ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES AND NATIVE FISH COMMUNITY OF <br />THE SAN JUAN RIVER <br /> <br />Interim management objectives are short-term population goals for the SJRIP that are "interim" to <br />establishing actual recovery goals. These objectives provide population goals based on theoretical <br />considerations, but they may be changed as recovery potential becomes clearer. The LRP proposed <br />interim population goal establishment for each of the two endangered fish species and for the other native <br />fishes. Interim management objectives were not addressed directly during the 7-year research period, but <br />a razorback sucker target population was established in the Augmentation Plan (Ryden 1997). That target <br />was 100 razorback sucker adults per mile, or 15,900 adults in the 159 miles below Hogback Diversion, <br />which is designated Critical Habitat for razorback sucker, Based on anticipated mortality, a total of75 ,000 <br />subadult and adult razorback sucker were programed for stocking over a 5-year period to achieve the <br />population goal of 100 razorback sucker adults per mile. <br /> <br />During 1998, the BrA and Southern Ute Tribe initiated a study to develop a bioenergetic model of <br />the San Juan River that would show what population levels of the endangered and native <br />fishes are sustainable in the San Juan River. These population levels may be applicable as <br />interim management objectives, or they may assist in developing final population goals for the San Juan <br />River, The USFWS is presently (sununer 2000) developing recovery goals and criteria for the four <br /> <br />September 2000 <br /> <br />4-1 <br /> <br />Program Evaluation Report <br />