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<br />
<br />What Is the Re,covary Program lor
<br />Endangared Fish 01 the'Up~er '-
<br />~olorado River Basin?
<br />The program exists because four of the 14
<br />. native fish species in the upper basin are fed:
<br />erally listed as endangered. it is a 15-year Pro-
<br />gram aimed at re-establishing self-sustaining
<br />populations of Colorado squawfish, Iillmpback .
<br />ch~b, bonytail and razorback suckerwhile pro,
<br />viding for continued water development within
<br />. the Colorado River Basin. ,. .
<br />
<br />are state species of special concern (bluehead
<br />sucker and mountain sucker): . . .
<br />The mission' of the Colorado Division of
<br />Wildlife .is .to perpetuate the wildlife resources
<br />of the state and provide people the opportunity
<br />to enjoy tbem.' In ,service to that 'mission the
<br />Colorado Wildlife Commissio_n adopted a Long
<br />Range Plan that was approved in March 1994
<br />and provided the following' policy direGtion:
<br />
<br />1 Our.foremostaim will ,-
<br />be to prptect and
<br />.enhance the viability bf all
<br />Colorado's wildlife
<br />species.
<br />
<br />
<br />2we will lead efforts
<br />involving a vilriety of
<br />agenCies and organiza-
<br />. tions to prevent Wildlife'
<br />species from declining to
<br />threatened or endapgered
<br />'status. The Division will .
<br />cooperate with others in .'
<br />the recovery of threatened
<br />and endangered species. '
<br />
<br />Colorado River.photo by Lynn Stamos, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service@.
<br />
<br />. , .
<br />Why are Colorado and the DIvision a.
<br />Wlldllle Involvad? -
<br />., .
<br />The state, through the governor, has signed
<br />the recovery program agreement. The Division
<br />of Wildlife is involved iO this program to guide
<br />and implement recovery actions for the listed
<br />fish in C~lor!ldo waters, The Division is eq'uai-
<br />Iy concerned about conservation management
<br />. . .of the remainder of, the fish community in the
<br />Colorado River system, .of which three more
<br />. species are considered candidates for federal
<br />listing (Colorado River cutthroat trout, roundtail .
<br />. chub, and flannelmo.uth sucker), and two more'
<br />
<br />3 We will encourage the
<br />broadest, deepest 'par..
<br />ticipationinwildlife.related [recreation] aciivi.
<br />ties that is feasible. The Division will provide
<br />quality opportunities for".fishing, hunting,
<br />wildlife viewing and otherforms of wildlife .
<br />recreation and enjoyment, consistent with the'
<br />goal of protecting,thewildlife resource, .
<br />
<br />-' ,
<br />
<br />. .
<br />. The Long Range Plan also establishes the
<br />. . following goals Jar ihe Division of Wildlife:
<br />
<br />. 1 Increase participation in fishing "by provid.
<br />ing a diversity of fis~ing opportuni!ies."
<br />
<br />. 2 Protect wildlife species that may be at risk'
<br />otbecoming threatened or endangered,
<br />
<br />.3 Prioritize threatened and endangered : .
<br />. species for which ,recovery plans will be
<br />cooperatively developed, .
<br />
<br />4Cooperate with. federal, state, county and
<br />local government agencies, private
<br />landowners and other government organiza. -
<br />tiqns in the timely development and implemen'
<br />tatibn of recovery plans for high-priority .
<br />species.
<br />
<br />. So, the Division js irying to both'protect
<br />. native fiShes, including the Colorado squaw.
<br />. fish, bonytait, humpback chub and razorback
<br />sUGker, and to promote diverse fishing opportu-
<br />nities, including those provided byintro(fuced
<br />. sport fish, such as northern pike, Ghannel Gat-
<br />fish, crappie and bass,
<br />
<br />Wh~t does the Recovery Project
<br />Include? . , . .
<br />The recovery program includes coordinated
<br />federal, state and private effqrts to il)1prove
<br />habitat for the endangered fish, by providing' .
<br />. streamflows at times and locations critical to
<br />the life cycles of the endangered fish; reducing
<br />. . confliGts with nOli.native predatory fish species;
<br />'. stocking endangered fish toaugment wild pop-
<br />ulations; building fish ladders to improve fish
<br />move.ment; and restoring -riverside nursery
<br />habitat for young fish, .
<br />
<br />. Can we ~ave both spo~t IIshino and
<br />endangared IIsh? ". .
<br />Yes, But having both in certain designated
<br />and crITical.1eaches of the river will be difficult.
<br />Some of these non.native sport fish prey on .
<br />. the threatened and endangered native species.
<br />
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<br />"The direction in bur work is quite clear:
<br />,- '. . . .-
<br />Do what we can to contribute to the protection of native fishes
<br />
<br />and at the same tim~ provide the maximum amount of sport fishing,".
<br />. . . I
<br />Pat Martinez, biologist
<br />Colorado Division of Wildlife
<br />
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