Laserfiche WebLink
<br />I <br /> <br />002H6 <br /> <br />Status and Current Distribution of Endaneered Fisb Species <br /> <br />An endangered species is defined by the ESA as "any species which is in danger of extinction <br />throughout all or a significant portion of its range"." Implicit in the ESA definitions of threatened <br />and endangered and in the principles of conservation biology is the need to consider the following <br />in the development of recovery goals: <br /> <br />Genetics: numbers are too low to maintain genetic viability <br />Demol!Iaphics: populations are small and declining (i.e., mortality exceeds recruitment) <br />Population redundancv: populations are too few, scattered or concentrated <br />Threats: persistent threats are significant (as identified in the five listing factors) <br /> <br />In August 2002, the Service issued final recovery goals for the four listed Colorado River fishes to <br />amend and supplement existing recovery plans for these fishes (USFWS 2002a-d), These recovery <br />goals not only identify demographic criteria (e.g" distribution, population size, mortality and <br />recruitment) that must be achieved to recover the four endangered Colorado River fishes (Table I), <br />but also prescribe management actions that specifically address the five listing factors of ESA <br />Section 4(a)(1). These recovery goals state "[r]ecovery is achieved when management actions and <br />associated tasks [to minimize or remove threats associated with the five listing factors] have been <br />implemented and/or completed to allow genetically and demographically viable. self-sustaining <br />populations to thrive under minimal ongoing management and investment of resources." Some of <br />the prescribed management actions are species-specific and, in some cases, subbasin-specific. <br />Others are more general in nature and/or basin-wide in scope. The following II actions are <br />applicable to the Yampa/Green River populations of the endangered fishes, with the species to <br />which each action applies shown in brackets [ ]: <br /> <br />1. Re-establish populations with hatchery-produced fish [bonytail and razorback sucker]. <br />2, Provide and Iegallyprotect habitat (including flow regimes necessary to restore and maintain <br />required environmental conditions) necessary to provide adequate habitat and sufficient <br />range for all life stages to support recovered populations [all]. <br />3. Investigate habitat requirements for all life stages and provide those habitats [bonytail]. <br />4. Minimize entrainment of sub adults and adults in diversion canals [Colorado pikeminnow]. <br />5. Ensure adequate protection from overutilization [all]. <br />6. Ensure adequate protection from diseases and parasites [all] <br />7, Regulate nonnative fish releases/escapement into the main river, floodplain, tributaries [all]. <br />8, Control problematic nonnative fishes as needed [all]. <br />9. Minimize risk of increased hybridization among Gila spp. [humpback chub and bonytail], <br />10. Minimize risk of hazardous-materials spills in critical habitat [all]. <br />II. Provide for the long-term management and protection of populations and their habitats <br />beyond deli sting (i,e., conservation plans) [all]. <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />The management actions relevant to each species are identified in each of the species descriptions <br />which follow. Each of these management actions is addressed in this plan in the context of the <br />DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION beginning on page 18, <br /> <br />Management Plan for Endangered Fishes in the Yampa River Basin <br /> <br />9 <br />