The agreement specifies the circumstances under which
certain species of nonnative fish can be stocked without
harming endangered fish, specifying when nonnative fish
species can be routinely stocked, when stocking is
prohibited and when case-by-case reviews are required.
These guidelines allow widespread stocking of trout and
stocking of a variety of warm-water fish species in seven
Western Slope reservoirs totaling more than 10,000
surface acres.
Stocking of black bullhead, yellow bullhead, common carp,
flathead catfish, green sunfish, northern pike, red
shiner, white crappie and wiper is prohibited. Also
off-limits is stocking non-native species within river
reaches designated as critical habitat for endangered
fish.
Trout can be stocked anywhere in the upper Colorado River
Basin except for river reaches in "critical
habitat" for endangered fish.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife can implement plans for
stocking non-native fish into Chipeta Lake and into the
following reservoirs: Rio Blanco, Purdy, Mesa, Mack Mesa,
Crawford, McPhee and Harvey Gap. Tiger muskie can be
stocked in Harvey Gap.
Largemouth bass, bluegill, black crappie and triploid
grass carp can be stocked above the 50-year flood plain
in waters that are not connected to the river or are
adequately screened to prevent the fish from escaping
into the river. (Triploid grass carp are sterile fish
often used to control vegetation growth in ponds.)
Corn Lake, upper Connected Lakes and Duke Lake, near
Grand Junction, Colo., and other waters that are within
the 50-year flood plain and are connected to the river
can be stocked with these same four fish species as long
as screens are installed and berms are constructed to
elevate the ponds above the 50-year flood plain.
Channel catfish and smallmouth bass may be stocked in any
water upstream of Flaming Gorge Dam.
Warm-water fish may be stocked into Strawberry Reservoir
and certain other standing waters in Utah.