LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Tom Chart has been named director of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. A fisheries biologist, Chart joined the Recovery Program staff in October 2007 as instream flow coordinator. In this role, he oversaw management of stream flows in accordance with agreements and guidelines established to help recover endangered fishes. He also coordinated efforts of state, federal and university biologists to manage nonnative fishes that threaten the survival of the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.
Chart brings more than 26 years of experience working with native Colorado River fish. Before joining the Recovery Program staff, Chart worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Ecological Services Field Office in Salt Lake City, Utah, on projects to recover endangered fish in the Colorado and Virgin River systems. Before that, he was a biologist for the Bureau of Reclamation in Salt Lake City. He also worked for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in Moab, Utah.
Each of Tom’s past positions has included involvement with the Recovery Program and its partners,” said Steve Guertin, regional director, Mountain-Prairie Region, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and chairman of the Recovery Program’s Implementation Committee. “His experience implementing Section 7 Section 7
Section 7 Consultation
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) directs all Federal agencies to work to conserve endangered and threatened species and to use their authorities to further the purposes of the Act. Section 7 of the Act, called "Interagency Cooperation," is the mechanism by which Federal agencies ensure the actions they take, including those they fund or authorize, do not jeopardize the existence of any listed species.
Learn more about Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act, administering grants and cooperative agreements for the Recovery Program, supervising and participating in other river restoration programs such as the Virgin River, San Juan River Basin and June Sucker recovery programs, gives Tom a broad perspective to manage this office and program.
Tom is highly respected in the Upper Basin and will continue the long tradition of working cooperatively with partners within the Colorado River Basin to recover the endangered fishes,” Guertin said. Chart holds undergraduate and graduate degrees in fish biology from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colo.
The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is a cooperative partnership of local, state and federal agencies, water developers, power customers and environmental groups established in 1988 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: www.ColoradoRiverRecovery.org.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
