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<br />o <br />o <br /><-.:> <br />,':) <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />(0 <br /> <br />other research commitments of the Implementation Program now underway would continue, <br />the needed recovery step of augmenting the extremely low numbers of razorback sucker in the <br />San Juan River would not be taken at this time. This action would achieve recovery only <br />through natural repopulation from the existing fish in the river; a possibility considered very <br />remote within the 15-year time frame of the Implementation Program, considering the low <br />population numbers thought to be present in the San Juan. Given the decline almost to <br />extirpation of wild razorback sucker in this system, this alternative would not fulfill the state <br />purpose of the San Juan Program that specifically identifies recovery of the endangered fish <br />species. <br /> <br />B. IMPLEMENTATION OF AUGMENTATION PLAN <br /> <br />Based on the results of the 3-year experimental stocking of razorback sucker in the San Juan <br />River, the Service believes that a viable population of this species can be established in the <br />river, thereby leading to the recovery of the species in the basin, and contributing to its <br />recovery throughout its range. In order to provide sufficient fish to augment the razorback <br />sucker population, the Service proposes to implement an augmentation plan covering <br />augmentation activities for a 5-year period from 1997 through 2001. The initial stocking is <br />planned to take place in fall 1997. Subsequent stockings will depend on the availability of fish <br />from either the Upper Colorado River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (Upper Basin <br />Program) or Lake Mohave stocks, or on the timely ability of the San Juan Implementation <br />Program to obtain its own hatchery facilities and develop its own stocks of razorback sucker. <br /> <br />All razorback sucker would be tagged with Passive Integrated Transponder (PIT) tags before <br />being released. Individual identification will allow researchers to distinguish hatchery-reared <br />fish and document their interactions with their wild counterparts and other native species. <br />Fish will be evaluated, prior to stocking, for pathogens and parasites. All stocking will conform <br />to existing state and Federal regulations. <br /> <br />The objectives of the 5-year plan are delineated below: <br /> <br />1. Determine habitat use and needs, site preference, and movement patterns of <br />hatchery-reared razorback sucker in the wild. <br /> <br />2. Determine survival rates and growth rates of hatchery-reared, known-age <br />razorback sucker in the wild. <br /> <br />3. Determine whether hatchery-reared razorback sucker will recruit into the adult <br />population and successfully spawn in the wild. <br /> <br />4. Determine if hatchery-reared razorback sucker can lead researchers to their wild <br />counterparts. If captured, wild razorback sucker will be brought into captivity <br />and used to develop a captive broodstock for the San Juan River. <br /> <br />All stocking efforts will be in compliance with the guidelines set forth in the Genetics <br />Management Plan now under development, following to the maximum extent possible the <br />