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900,000 approved to develop endangered fish hatcheries , . ITCHERIES, from 1 Outdoor ponds would be used to se endangered fish for future stock- ~ efforts and field studies. ' Biologists, and engineers planning , Craig facility will finalize the pro- sed hatchery design, acquire neces- y pennits. and compleie require- mts of the National Erivironmental licy Act in 1995. Construction would rt in 1996 and be completed in 1997. "This is one of several actions in the covery- Program's 1995 work plan .t will"provide direct and tangible lefitS for endangered fish," said John ' mill, a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser- e biologist who directs the Recov- , Program. ' Currently, there are two eridangered' \ hatcheries in the upper Colorado rer Basin: one at the Ouray National Idlife Refuge near Vernal, Utah, and , at' H orsethief ,Canyon State ldlife Area 'near Fruita, Colo. Two ' er facilities - a state Fish Research tchery'in Bellevue, Colo., and a ria' 1a1 hatchery in Valley City, S.D.- 'e been 1.JSed temporarily to hold and 'pagate endangered fish. But the ,ce available in these porids totals y six acres. Biologists say another, acres are needed if all' four, fish ,cies,~ razorback suckers, bonytail bs, humpback chubs and Colorado awfish - are to be maintained in arate ponds according to their ge- ,c background. )ther 1995 projects are as follows: ..:. Construction is scheduled to start ' , summer on a fish ladder at the " !lands Diversion Dam on southwest orado's Gunnison River. Public re-' N of the proposal haS been- com- :ed and' an environmental assess- lt finalized. A ladder would give the ,access to more than 50 miles ,of r historic range. The $1 million iect would be completed iri the ng of 1996. --: The Colorado River Water Cori- ration District will develop a plan protecting Yampa River flows for angered fish while also providing :er for human needs. Current plans for' accomplishing this by expand- Elkhead Reservoir, upstream of en- Photo by ConnIe Xoung Redlands Water and Power Company built the dIVersion dam in 1918 to provide water for irrigation and hydroelecbic power. Constructing a ladder around the dam would allOw endanger9d fish to red aim 50 miles of their historic range: dangered fish habitat. said: "Many '~f tliese' projects were The total 1995 Recovery, Program done without consideration for their ef- budget is $8.5 mi\lion. More than half fects on native fish and wildlife. We are of that amount will pay for capit31 pro~ ' now trying to reverse some, of the im- jects such as hatchery expansions, con- pacts of those developments.", struction of the Redlands fish ladder The four species of endangered fish and restoration of wetlands needed by are at risk of extinction because of young endangered fish. ' habitat changes caused primarily by "These costs should be considered construction of dams and introductions in context of the, billions of dollars of exotic fish. Biologists believe the spent altering the river to construct wa- 'decline in native fish is an indicator of ter projects for human needs," Hamill the health of the river environment. 2