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III WilDLIFE ~ Native fish declining. The most detailed survey of native fish in the South Platte River Drainage ever conducted has found 60 percent of species either abundant or common, but seven species in decline. Division of Wildlife aquatic managers recommend that a cooperative effort involving state and federal agencies, water users and landowners begin immediately to restore the seven species b'e1fore they disappear entirely. The species are the northern redbelly dace, brassy minnow, common shiner, stonecat, suckermouth minnow, lake chub and plains minnow. Aquatic managers may ask the Colorado Wildlife Commission to consider adding them to the state list of tbreat- ened and endangered species. This process is a formal, three- step procedure that includes extensive public input. Tom Nesler, DOW native fish coordinator, recommends further inventories and intensive conservation measures, trans- planting fish to establish new populations in unoccupied habi- tats, and restrictions on taking the fish from streams. Habitat change is a main reason for the decline of these fish, he said. "Water and land use changes have been dramatic and some of these species are having trouble coping." Nesler said. DOW endorses national funding initiative. The Colorado Division of Wildlife has joined 2,000 businesses, organizations and natural resource management agencies nationwide in endorsing the proposed Wildlife Diversity Funding Initiative, or ''Teaming With Wildlife" project. Expected to be introduced as legislation in Congress this year, TWW proposes to' fund states' conservation, recreation and educational activities by establishing a national "user fee" related to the manufacture of outdoor recreational equipment. The resulting revenue-estimated to be about $350 million annually-would be returned to state wildlife agencies for wildlife conservation projects. Under the TWW proposal, outdoor equipment would be subject to an excise tax ranging from 0.25 percent to 5 percent. Eiigible products could range from backpacks and sleeping bags to photographic equipment, bird seed and feeders. The proposal is modeled after the highly successful Pittman-Robertson, Dingell-Johnson and Wallop-Breaux laws which tax the manufacture of arms, ammunition, fishing equip- ment and other sporting gear. Colorado currently receives about $8 million annually from these federally legislated sources, of which $1 billion is re-allo- cated to local communities for fishing habitat and access improvement projects. "This proposal is a user-benefit, user-pay concept," said DOW Director Jobn Mumma. "We have a great challenge ahead of us to secure alternative funding sources. This effort will enable all Coloradans to support their wildlife in the face of unprecedented growth. Fnture generations will be guaranteed a wildlife heritage they can be proud of." The TWW proposal is endorsed by Colorado Bowhunters Association, Colorado Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Colorado Wildlife Federation, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Trout Uniimited, Wild Turkey Federation, Izaak Walton League, Boone and Crockett Club, American Fisheries Society and many businesses and government agencies. More land acquired for sportsmen access. Coloradans will have access to an additional 60,676 more acres of prime wildlife habitat on 30 State Land Board properties beginning this fall. That brings the tally up to 197 trust lands and about 470,000 acres open to wildlife recreation since 1993, said Tom Spezze, State Trost Lands coordinator for the Division of Wildiife. This is in addition to about 450,000 acres that were acquired for access in the division's first 100 years. The new lands were acquired as a response to hunters' requests for more access to lands for outdoor recreation. Volunteers track boreal toads. Hikers, volunteers and others are helping the Division of Wildlife monitor breeding sites for the elusive boreal toad, listed as an endangered species. The toad-hunters walk around at night with flashlights, nets and buckets, wading through shallow ponds. When they find a toad, they check it for an ill tag, which helps them track the toad's whereabouts. Some tags have radio transmitters. So far the toad-hunters have found one new breeding popu- lation near Cottonwood Creek drainage, and they are investigat- ing several others. This brings the total number of known breeding sites to about 50, said aquatic researcher Mark Jones. The population of boreal toads is estimated to have declined 90 percent in two decades, and no one knows why. The research will benefit not oniy the toads, but also humans, because the status of boreal toads can serve as indicators of overall habitat quality and health. Romer cites benefits of hunting, fishing. Noting that hunting and fishing provide recreation for more than one mil- lion participants and more than $1 billion annually, Governor Roy Romer declared Sept. 27 Hunting and Fishing Day in Colorado. "Hunting and fishing are established recreational traditions deeply rooted in Colorado history," Romer said in a proclama- tion.. "Sport hunting and fishing...contribute significantly to the preservation and protection of our natural environment." The proclamation creates a state celebration that parallels National Hunting and Fishing Day. More than .one million citizens and visitors purchase hunt- ing and fishing licenses in the state each year. Their expendi- tures add more than $1.6 billion annually to the state. 4