4209

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 4209
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
• Title: Alternative Methods of Preserving and Recovering Three Endangered Colorado River Fishes, and Identification of Significant Environmental Issues.
• USFW Year: n.d.
• USFW - Doc Type: \
• Copyright Material: NO

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ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF PR:SERVING
AND RECOVERING THREE ENDANGERED COLORADO RIVER FISHES,
AND IDENTIFICATION OF SIGNIFICANT I:NVIR0~IMENTAL ISSUES
I. INTRODUCTION
This scoping document is intended to present and solicit alternative
plans that attempt to preserve and recover three endangered fish
species of the Upper Colorado River Basin (UCRB). Significant
environmental issues that may be affected by various proposals are
also identified.
The Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila
cypha), and bonytail chub (Gila elegans) are currently listed as
endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). As such, these
species are accorded protection from harm and from future loss of
habitat. The ESA also requires the FWS to develop and implement
plans for the conservation and survival of endangered species.
The attached preliminary conservation plan proposal is an attempt
to consolidate possible actions that are conducive to the preservation
and recovery of the fishes into a comprehensive, coordinated,
directed long-range plan of action. However, there may be other
actions not covered in this document that will accomplish this
purpose. in addition, there may be additional environmental issues
not listed that must be discussed.
This scoping document is intended as a vehicle to solicit your
views and comments on the attached preliminary conservation plan
proposal. Your suggestions or recommendations regarding the plan,
as well as other alternatives and environmental issues, will be
used to develop appropriate environmental documents in r_ompliance
with the National Environmental Policy Act.
II. AESCRIPTION OF ALTEP.NATIVES
Since Listing of the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, and bonytail
chub as endangered species, the FWS has been meeting the provisions
of the. Endangered Species Aet, which requires the preservation and
recovery of endangered and threatened species, as well as attempting
to address the continued and inceeasing demand for energy and water
development in the t1CRB. A number of alternatives, varying in
degree of effectiveness or feasibility, have been proposed and are
described below. The FWS welcomes discussion of additional possibilities.