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<br />186...: <br /> <br />some native species populations are smaller today than they were historically. Because the system was not <br /> <br /> <br />continuously monitored, the exact reasons for their population declines cannot be definitively deteImined. <br /> <br /> <br />Likewise, the factors that are limiting to the recovery of the rare fish species cannot be definitively <br /> <br /> <br />deteImined. During the 7 -year research period, the SJRIP attempted to define factors limiting the recovery <br /> <br /> <br />of the Endangered Species, which are distinct from the factors that will limit their ultimate population <br /> <br /> <br />expansion. At present, few, if any, factors can be definitively identified as limiting to the recovery of <br /> <br /> <br />Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker, primarily because so few of these fishes currently exist in the <br />San Juan River system. <br /> <br />The SJRIP determined that the introduction of large numbers of Colorado pikeminnow and razorback <br /> <br />sucker win be required to accelerate the recovery of these species to naturally reproducing populations. <br /> <br /> <br />As the goal of healthy populations proceeds, determination of ecological limitations on their ultimate <br /> <br /> <br />population expansion can be more readily accomplished. As that goal is approached, it will also become <br /> <br /> <br />easier to deteImine what external factors may limit their recovery, such as flow regimes or introduced <br /> <br />species. At present, incremental increases in their population size are likely as recovery and augmentation <br /> <br />efforts continue. Continued monitoring and assessment will be necessary to determine which factors, if any, <br /> <br />limit their recovery to system capacily, which is their ultimate ecological limit <br /> <br />March 2000 <br /> <br />3-104 <br /> <br />Draft Program Evaluation Report <br /> <br />~ <br />