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<br />19 <br /> <br />, <br /> <br />Juan River be considered an integral part of the Upper Colorado River Basin in <br />its recovery efforts. . ." and ". , . that the Service encourage participation <br />by the State of New Mexico and other appropriate entities so that the San Juan <br />can be more fully incorporated into the Recovery Plans, and subsequently, in <br />Implementation Plans." The Recovery Team met in March 1990 and once again <br />reaffirmed its position and recommended to the Service, in a memorandum dated <br />April 16, 1990, that the San Juan River be considered as essential to recovery <br />of Colorado squawfish and that it be added to both downlisting and delisting <br />criteria. The Recovery Team arrived at its conclusions based upon the following <br />rationale: <br /> <br />1. Colorado squawfish were collected during all three seasons from Lake <br />Powell upstream 154 miles and, therefore, are presumed to inhabit the <br />river year round, <br /> <br /> <br />2. The San Juan River represents one of only three reproductive areas <br />documented in the Upper Basin; recruitment to the population is unknown. <br /> <br />3. New hydrology data indicates flexibility exists within the river system to <br />maintain/enhance flows (habitat) that appear to have direct correlation <br />with successful downstream reproduction. The last 3-year study produced <br />few fish collections during drier years (1988-1989). <br /> <br />4. One adult squawfish migrated upstream from Lake Powell some 90 miles. The <br />river has a total of 177 miles that are currently barrier free. <br /> <br />~-'- <br /> <br />5. Suitable habitat appear available for all life stages. <br /> <br />6. Status of existing populations appears depressed in the Colorado River <br />subbasin and is not secure in the Green River subbasin. <br /> <br />7. The vulnerability of existing populations to such impacts as oil spills <br />and natural catastrophic events (e.g., Yampa and West Water Canyon) poses <br />a continued threat to recovery of the fishes. <br /> <br />8, Compared to other Upper Basin rivers, the San Juan River contains larger <br />numbers of native fishes with fewer species of exotic fish. <br /> <br />9. In spite of past water quality problems (oil spills and fish eradication), <br />opportunities exist to improve the water quality in the San Juan River, <br /> <br />10. As the southern most tributary in the Upper Basin, water temperature <br />characteristics appear to favor long-term growth. <br /> <br />11. The squawfish population, though small in number, may be important as <br />unique genetic stock in a separate subbasin. <br /> <br />12. The enhancement of San Juan River fish numbers and habitat increases the <br />recovery potential over a larger portion of the fish's historical range. <br /> <br />.": <br />~~- ~ <br /> <br />",,' <br /> <br />