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Attachment I. GREEN RIVER NON-NATIVE FISH REMOVAL STUDY The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources under direction of the Recovery Implementation Program for the Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program) is initiating a two-year study to determine the benefit to the native fish community by removing small channel catfish, smallmouth bass, green sunfish and black crappie from stretches of the Green River. Recent stomach analyses and historical observational data suggest that small channel catfish, small mouth bass, green sunfish and black crappie represent a great threat to the Colorado squawfish in the upper Green River. The non-native channel catfish, smallmouth bass, green sunfish and black crappie are presently the most abundant main channel species found in the upper portions of the Green and Colorado rivers and are multiplying at an alarming rate. These fish compete with native species for resources (food and habitat) and impact the native fish populations directly through predation. The Recovery Program, a fifteen year cooperative effort of state and federal agencies, environmental groups and water use interests, has identified five program elements to achieve its goal of recovering the four endangered Colorado River species (Colorado squawfish,razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail) to self-sustaining populations while allowing for future water development. The program elements are: I) habitat development, 2) habitat management, 3) stocking native fishes, 4) research and monitoring, and 5) non-native species control. Much of the effort to date has been directed toward the first two elements. The Recovery Program has recently focused on the non-native species issue, specifically: I. control of non-native species, and 2. measurement of positive response in the native fish community as result of those control activities. The Green River Non-Native Removal Study is designed to determine whether we can: I. significantly control catfish numbers and for how long, 2. achieve a better balance of native species, 3. improve the structure of the native species population through increased numbers of juveniles and young adults, and 4. improve the condition I health of native species. Outlined below are some aspects of the study methods intended to answer questions interested parties may have. WHERE: The Green River Ouray stretch; on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuge, from River Mile 246-266. Four sampling sections (one mile in length) will be studied. Fish will be removed from 2 sections; the other two will act as controls ( no removal). WHEN: The bulk of the work will occur in August and September. Crews in one form or another will likely be on the river every week through the study period. 4 DRAFT