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.-J ~ INTERIM PROCEDURES FOR STOCKING NONNATIVE FISH SPECIES IN THE UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN March 10, 1994 I. PURPOSE AND PRINCIPLES The Procedures for Stocking Nonnative Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin (Procedures) have been developed as a cooperative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) and the States of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming (States). The purpose of the Procedures is to ensure that all future stockings of nonnative fish will be consistent with recovery of the endangered Colorado squawfish (Ptvchocheilus luciusl, humpback chub (Gila cvphal, bony tail chub (Gila eleQansl, and razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus) within the Upper Colorado River Basin (Upper Basin), excluding the San Juan River basin. The Procedures fulfill the requirements established in the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program) for the States and the Service to "develop procedures, including studies, for reviewing and for resolving disagreements with any proposed introductions into the upper basin." The Procedures will be implemented on an interim basis through the fall of 1994 to examine their effectiveness in meeting the intended purposes and objectives. Final procedures will b~ developed based on a review of the interim procedures. The fi na 1 procedures will be implemented beginning in 1995. The Procedures were developed based on the following principles: 1. The Procedures should implement the spirit and intent of the Recovery Program: o The goal of the Recovery Program is to recover the four endangered Colorado River fishes by establishing naturally self susta i ni ng popul at ions and protecting the habitat upon whi ch they depend. The Procedures are intended to support this goal while allowing nonnative fish stocking for recreational fishing and private aquaculture that is compatible with recovery of the endangered Colorado River fishes to proceed.