The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Ducks Unlimited are working together to restore habitat for the endangered razorback sucker and bonytail chub. On April 29, at 12:00 p.m. approximately 15,000 one-year old razorback suckers will be stocked in newly created backwater ponds on Imperial National Wildlife Refuge, northwest of Yuma, Arizona.
The stocking is part of a partnership project on the refuge to restore habitat for endangered fish. The Service, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Ducks Unlimited created a series of ponds adjacent to the Colorado River that in many ways mimic the backwater habitats once found along the river. Historically, backwater habitats would occur during wet periods, some existing for only months and others existing for decades or more.
Prior to stocking, the newly created backwater habitats were renovated by removing potential predatory fish giving the razorback sucker a better chance for survival. Even small fish can be predators on the razorback sucker eggs and young fish.
The fish to be stocked were collected from Lake Mohave and raised at Dexter National Fish Hatchery and Technology Center in New Mexico. Their
