Endangered Fish Recovery Resumes

May 6, 2009

Release from: Deseret News (Utah)

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program has resumed its work in sections of the Colorado, Duchesne, Green and Yampa rivers in Utah and Colorado.

The program is intended 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, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State University will combine their efforts on the program.

Management of non-native fish species is a primary goal of this year's research work. Northern pike and smallmouth bass have been identified as two non-native fish species that pose a significant threat to endangered species of fish and other native fishes.

Northern pike and smallmouth bass are active predators that eat other fish and compete for food and space in the river.

For nearly a decade, the program's researchers have worked to reduce the populations of these non-native fish species to a level where endangered and other native fishes can continue to co-exist and thrive.

"Although we still have a long way to go to manage non-native fishes in critical habitat in the Upper Colorado River Basin, we are encouraged by data that indicate we are making progress, especially with northern pike," said Bob Muth, recovery program director

"We've seen a shift from large-sized, adult northern pike in a 70-mile reach of the Yampa River to smaller, juvenile fish. Last year, we noted that the overall abundance of northern pike in the Yampa neared its lowest level since our management efforts began in 1999."

Reductions of adult northern pike populations have also occurred in critical habitat areas of the Green River. Since the program's removal efforts began in 2001, northern pike numbers have decreased by more than 90 percent.

Management of smallmouth bass populations remains a problem, as researchers noted strong reproduction in 2006 and 2007 in sections of the Green and Yampa rivers. In 2008, the entire Upper Colorado River Basin experienced a return to higher and cooler water flows, and smallmouth bass reproduction diminished greatly in all rivers.

Efforts to remove smallmouth bass in 2007 and 2008 in the Yampa and Green rivers showed limited success. However, smallmouth bass populations on the Colorado River declined for the third consecutive year. This year, removal efforts will continue and crews will coordinate their sampling trips to address the movement of smallmouth bass.

"Our crews are experienced in working with both native and non-native fish species in these river systems," Muth said. "Their shared expertise helps focus our efforts on the most efficient and effective research techniques to help us achieve our goals."

Non-native fish management is one of many recovery efforts that enable use and development of water from the Upper Colorado River Basin to proceed in compliance with the Endangered Species Act.

Since 1988, recovery actions implemented through the program have provided ESA compliance for 1,675 water projects, depleting approximately 2.3 million acre-feet of water in the Upper Basin.

Implementation of non-native fish management is important because it is one of the measures the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service uses to determine if progress toward recovery of the endangered fish is sufficient to allow the program to continue.

This year, researchers will also conduct other studies related to endangered fish. These include gathering data to complete estimates on the abundance of Colorado pikeminnow, monitoring floodplain habitat and sediment, and researching the life history of razorback suckers by studying the movement of larvae.

In addition, hatchery-raised bonytails and razorback suckers will be stocked in sections of the Green, Gunnison and Colorado rivers to help re-establish populations.

All fish management actions are developed and implemented according to recovery goals that provide objective, measurable criteria for down-listing species and the removal from Endangered Species Act protection. Results of all actions 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, visit the Web site at www.fws.gov/ColoradoRiverRecovery.

Greenback cutthroat trout to receive added protection in Utah

What could be the first population of greenback cutthroat trout found in Utah will receive some added protection through a change to the state's fishing rules.

Division of Wildlife Resources Director Jim Karpowitz recently signed the emergency change. The change took effect May 1.

Effective May 1, Beaver Creek — a tributary to LaSal Creek in southeastern Utah — will be closed to the possession of cutthroat trout.

Anglers also will be restricted to fishing with flies and lures only.

"Trout were taken from Beaver Creek recently and genetically tested," says Roger Wilson, cold-water sport fisheries coordinator for the DWR. "The testing indicates this stream may contain a population of pure greenback cutthroat trout.

"Because greenbacks are currently listed as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, anglers may fish for them on a catch-and-release basis only."

Wilson says protecting this unique cutthroat trout population will give biologists more time to study it and develop a conservation plan.

For more information, call the Division of Wildlife Resources' Price office at 435-613-3700 or the DWR's Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700.