The Vernal Colorado River Fish Project functions in support of the Recovery Implementation Program for the Recovery of Endangered Fishes in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The recovery program is a broad coalition of states, agencies and private interest groups committed to establishing self-sustaining populations of endangered Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub, and bonytail while providing for new water development in the basin. The recovery program agreement, initiated in 1988, was renewed in 2002 and funds were authorized by Congress to continue the program through 2011.
Funds provided to the program support actions among the following operational categories:
- Habitat/Instream Flow Restoration
- Nonnative Fish Management
- Propagation and Stocking (accomplished by Ouray National Fish Hatchery)
- Research and Monitoring
Staff from Fish and Wildlife Service field stations, together with program participants, plan and implement recovery actions as defined by the recovery plan.
Program participants include:
| U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service | U.S. Bureau of Reclamation |
| Western Area Power Administration | National Park Service |
| Colorado Department of Natural Resources | State of Wyoming |
| Utah Department of Natural Resources | The Nature Conservancy |
| Colorado Water Congress | Utah Water Users Association |
| Wyoming Water Association | Colorado River Energy Distributors Association |
