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<br />Attachment 2. <br /> <br />GREEN RIVER <br />CATFISH REMOVAL STUDY <br /> <br />The Utah Division of Wildlife under direction of the Recovery Implementation Program for the <br />Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program) is initiating a two-year <br />study to determine the benefit to the native fish community of removing channel catfish from <br />stretches of the Green River. The channel catfish is not a native species to the Colorado River <br />system, but has multiplied at an alarming rate. Channel catfish and carp (also non-native) are <br />presently the most abundant main channel species found in the lower portions of the Green and <br />Colorado rivers. Channel catfish compete with native species for resources (food and habitat) <br />and impact the native fish populations directly through predation. <br /> <br />The Recovery Program, a fifteen year cooperative effort of state and federal agencies, <br />environmental groups and water use interests, has identified five program elements to achieve its <br />goal of recovering the four endangered Colorado River species (Colorado squawfish, razorback <br />sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail) to self-sustaining populations while allowing for future <br />water development. The program elements are: I) habitat development, 2) habitat management, <br />3) stocking native fishes, 4) research and monitoring, and 5) non-native species control. Much of <br />the effort to date has been directed toward the first two elements. The Recovery Program has <br />recently focused on the non-native species issue, specifically: 1. control of non-native species, <br />and 2. measurement of positive response in the native fish community as result of those control <br />activities. The Green River Catfish Removal Study is designed to determine whether we can: I. <br />significantly control catfish numbers and for how long, 2. achieve a better balance of native <br />species, 3. improve the structure of the native species population through increased numbers of <br />juveniles and young adults, and 4. improve the condition / health of native species. <br /> <br />Outlined below are some aspects of the study methods intended to answer questions interested <br />parties may have. <br /> <br />WHERE: <br /> <br />The Green River daily stretch from Nefertiti (RM 20.2 in the Belknap River <br />Guide) to Short Canyon Rapid (RM 13). Four sampling sections (one mile in <br />length) will be studied. Catfish will be removed from 2 sections; the other two <br />will act as controls ( no removal). <br /> <br />WHEN: <br /> <br />The bulk of the work will occur in August and September. Crews in one form or <br />another will likely be on the river every week through the study period. <br /> <br />6 DRAFT <br />