LAKEWOOD, Colo. - The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) announced today that research studies have resumed in sections of river in the Upper Colorado River Basin in Utah and Colorado to help recover four species of endangered fish ? the humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.
Biologists from the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Colorado Division of Wildlife, Colorado State University and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will conduct this year's work.
"People who live along the rivers and who enjoy boating, fishing and other forms of recreation, may see these crews and wonder what they?re doing," said Recovery Program Director Bob Muth. "We want people to know that these are researchers who are gathering important data that will help us measure the effectiveness of management actions we are taking to recover these rare fishes.?
One study addresses management of nonnative smallmouth bass and northern pike populations in portions of the Colorado, Duchesne, Green, White and Yampa rivers. In Utah, nonnative fish removed from the river will not be relocated to other waters. Utah adheres to fish disease control rules and policies that prohibit fish transfers between water bodies without prior health certification. Certifying fish populations in large rivers as disease free is nearly impossible.
"Although there are more than 50 nonnative fish species in the Upper Colorado River Basin, northern pike and smallmouth bass are two species that pose a significant threat to the endangered fishes according to our research," said Recovery Program Nonnative Fish Coordinator Tom Chart. "These two species are active predators known to eat other fishes, including the endangered fishes. They also compete for food and space in the rivers.?
In other studies, estimates of the abundance of Colorado pikeminnow and humpback chub will take place. Biologists are working in the Colorado, Green, White and Yampa rivers to collect data on Colorado pikeminnow. Humpback chub estimates will occur in the Colorado River in Westwater Canyon and Black Rocks in eastern Utah and western Colorado.
All Recovery Program management actions are developed and implemented according to recovery goals that provide objective, measurable criteria for downlisting to ?threatened? and delisting (removal from Endangered Species Act protection). Results of both the nonnative fish management and abundance estimate studies are used to track progress toward achieving these goals, to assess the effectiveness of management actions and to adjust recovery efforts through adaptive management.
For more information, contact the Recovery Program at 303-969-7322, ext. 227, or visit the Recovery Program's website at coloradoriverrecovery.fws.gov.
Established in 1988, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is a voluntary, cooperative program whose purpose is to recover the endangered fishes while water development proceeds in accordance with federal and state laws and interstate compacts. For more information, call 303-969-7322, ext. 227 or visit the Recovery Program's website: coloradoriverrecovery.fws.gov">.
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