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RECOVERYPRffiRAM FOR THE ENDANGERED FISHES ~~OF THE UPPER COIORAm Spring 1993 Wetlands targeted for endangered fish By COnnie Young Public Information Specialist Colorado Division of Wildl~e Ouray, UTAH - Wetlands, which have long been known as marshy havens for ducks, geese and other waterfowl, now are being pinpointed as essential for recovery of endan- gered Colorado River fish. Federal and state biologists worlc- ing in Utah's upper Green River say wetlands provide endangered razor- back suckers with high concenlJ1ltions of microscopic zooplankton to feed on and a protected setting in which to grow. But man-made dikes between the river and many wetlands block access for the fish. Researchers and managers involved in the Recovery Program for Endangered fish of the Upper Colorado River hope to change that. Biologists in Vernal, Utah, will begin an experiment this fall to allow endangered fish into "Woods Bottom," a low-lying wetland near thc Green River on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. A control mecha- nism wiJI be installed to allow ...::....,,::,:...::::...::::. '.:..:" ..'I'N...'.S..'I"D', E;i....' .. . ".":.:: ..' . ... . ....... . ... ... . .. .. .'. . .. .... , . " , ... . . .... .... .... 0"" .. <P,~ge 4 " : ........:..:.....:::...:.::....:.... . .. ... . ........... . ........ . . .. .. . ....... o ,'" .. . . .. .. .. ,,:'P,age.!j','" ,: Squa~ti~Jiinoregon 7 . .... .. . '. "." '. . ,... 0" ..' . .' '.. .. .. . ... . .. .u.. .. .. .. rage? ' .. ... ....:...." ,":.:."": ....:". ::"" . .,. .. .... .... ":". :.:.:.":::-".:.:'"::...:::".:":-., .:" :":::" ",:W~~ru~,fi~hr&oveiy Photo by Ed Wick Researchers found significantly higher growth rates among razorback suckers placed In wetlands compared to fish In river channel 'backwaters.' researchers to lct endangered fish into the wetland and keep most carp, chan- nel catfish and other predacious non- natiye fish out. The same strategy is being considered on the Colorado and Gunnison rivers as well as in other wetlands on the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge. See WETLANDS, Page 2 Selenium contamination poses risk for some rare Colorado River fish Jensen, UTAH - Endangered Colorado Riyer fish face a new peril in the wild: selenium levels in some northeast Utah waters that are up to 12 times the level considered safe for wildlife. Selenium, a naturally occurring ele- ment animals require in trace amounts. can in large quantities cause severe birth defects in wildlife. Irrigation drain water and leakage from sewage treatment lagoons near Vernal. Utah, filtcr through the soil and shale deposits, transporting large amounts of selenium to the Green River and some nearby creeks and ponds. High concentrations of selenium in Ashley Creek and Stewart Lake, near Jensen, Utah, have caused deformed waterfowl embryos and also could See SELENIUM. Page 2