Threatened and endangered fish species - Revision history

JeffreyJLukas: /* Three additional species of concern */

2024-04-25T19:12:59Z

Three additional species of concern

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:12, 25 April 2024
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	===Three additional species of concern ===		===Three additional species of concern ===

	The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; it is estimated that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as ~~threatened~~ or ~~endangered~~. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006 [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf]. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.		The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; it is estimated that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as Threatened or Endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006 [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf]. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.

	==Data and tools==		==Data and tools==

JeffreyJLukas: /* Overview */

2024-04-25T19:12:00Z

Overview

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	Arizona Game and Fish Department, via U.S. Geological Survey)]]		Arizona Game and Fish Department, via U.S. Geological Survey)]]

	The Colorado River Basin is home to at least 35 native fish species. At least 26 of these species are endemic to the basin, occurring nowhere else, including four federally-listed ~~threatened~~ or ~~endangered~~ species that were formerly widespread in the basin: Colorado Pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus Iucius''), Razorback sucker (''Xyrauchen texanus''), Bonytail (''Gila elegans''), and Humpback Chub (''Gila cypha'') [https://ocs.fortlewis.edu/drd/pdf/Appendix-D%20_Rangewide-3-Species-Conservation-Agreement_3-7-12.pdf#page=28]. The range and populations of all four species have declined dramatically since the early 1900s due to the combined impacts of dam construction and resulting changes in flow regimes, water temperatures, and water quality; channelization and backwater habitat loss; water diversions and depletions; the introduction and expansion of predatory non-native coldwater species; and overfishing [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf]. The viability and status of these four species of fish–all finely adapted to pre-development river conditions–serves as a general indicator of the ecosystem health of the river system. Two additional federally listed ~~threatened or endangered~~ species, the Woundfin (''Plagopterus argentissimus'') and Virgin River Chub (''Gila seminuda'') ~~are found~~ only in the Virgin River.		The Colorado River Basin is home to at least 35 native fish species. At least 26 of these species are endemic to the basin, occurring nowhere else, including four federally listed Threatened or Endangered species that were formerly widespread in the basin: Colorado Pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus Iucius''), Razorback sucker (''Xyrauchen texanus''), Bonytail (''Gila elegans''), and Humpback Chub (''Gila cypha'') [https://ocs.fortlewis.edu/drd/pdf/Appendix-D%20_Rangewide-3-Species-Conservation-Agreement_3-7-12.pdf#page=28]. The range and populations of all four species have declined dramatically since the early 1900s due to the combined impacts of dam construction and resulting changes in flow regimes, water temperatures, and water quality; channelization and backwater habitat loss; water diversions and depletions; the introduction and expansion of predatory non-native coldwater species; and overfishing [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf]. The viability and status of these four species of fish–all finely adapted to pre-development river conditions–serves as a general indicator of the ecosystem health of the river system. Two additional federally listed Endangered species, the Woundfin (''Plagopterus argentissimus'') and Virgin River Chub (''Gila seminuda''), historically and currently occur only in the Virgin River [https://virginriverprogram.org/the-virgin-river/wildlife/].

	Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must avoid actions that are likely to jeopardize the existence of listed species, and must develop programs to conserve critical habitat and recover the species, in partnership with states and other stakeholders [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-2.-findings,-purposes,-and-policy]. The need to meet these directives has resulted in changes to the operation of the basin’s dams and to water diversions, to meet species’ instream flow requirements and to facilitate fish passage around diversion structures [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf].		Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must avoid actions that are likely to jeopardize the existence of listed species, and must develop programs to conserve critical habitat and recover the species, in partnership with states and other stakeholders [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-2.-findings,-purposes,-and-policy]. The need to meet these directives has resulted in changes to the operation of the basin’s dams and to water diversions, to meet species’ instream flow requirements and to facilitate fish passage around diversion structures [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf].

JeffreyJLukas: /* Overview */

2024-04-25T19:07:38Z

Overview

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	Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must avoid actions that are likely to jeopardize the existence of listed species, and must develop programs to conserve critical habitat and recover the species, in partnership with states and other stakeholders [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-2.-findings,-purposes,-and-policy]. The need to meet these directives has resulted in changes to the operation of the basin’s dams and to water diversions, to meet species’ instream flow requirements and to facilitate fish passage around diversion structures [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf].		Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must avoid actions that are likely to jeopardize the existence of listed species, and must develop programs to conserve critical habitat and recover the species, in partnership with states and other stakeholders [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-2.-findings,-purposes,-and-policy]. The need to meet these directives has resulted in changes to the operation of the basin’s dams and to water diversions, to meet species’ instream flow requirements and to facilitate fish passage around diversion structures [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf].

	In 1988, the need to better coordinate research, monitoring, adaptive management, and recovery of the four species within the Upper Basin led to the creation of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (UCR FRP), which in 1992 was supplemented by a recovery implementation program specific to the San Juan River, the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRB RIP) [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html]. The SJRB RIP focuses specifically on the recovery of the Razorback Sucker and the Colorado Pikeminnow.		In 1988, the need to better coordinate research, monitoring, adaptive management, and recovery of the four species within the Upper Basin led to the creation of the [https://www.fws.gov/office/upper-colorado-river-endangered-fish-recovery-program Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program] (UCR FRP), which in 1992 was supplemented by a recovery implementation program specific to the San Juan River, the [https://coloradoriverrecovery.org/sj/ San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program] (SJRB RIP) [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html]. The SJRB RIP focuses specifically on the recovery of the Razorback Sucker and the Colorado Pikeminnow.

	In 2005, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) was initiated to coordinate monitoring and recovery for the endangered fish, and ESA-listed bird species, in the Lower Basin [https://www.lcrmscp.gov/about_us/history]. The Virgin River Program (VRP) coordinates recovery and conservation efforts of native species in that tributary.		In 2005, the [https://www.lcrmscp.gov/ Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program] (LCR MSCP) was initiated to coordinate monitoring and recovery for the endangered fish, and ESA-listed bird species, in the Lower Basin [https://www.lcrmscp.gov/about_us/history]. The [https://virginriverprogram.org/ Virgin River Program] (VRP) coordinates recovery and conservation efforts of native species in that tributary.

	Three additional native fish species, sometimes collectively called the “three-species assemblage” since they often co-occur, are not listed under ESA but have declining populations: Flannelmouth Sucker (''Catostomus latipinnis''), Bluehead Sucker (''Catostomus discobolus''), and Roundtail Chub (''Gila robusta'').		Three additional native fish species, sometimes collectively called the “three-species assemblage” since they often co-occur, are not listed under ESA but have declining populations: Flannelmouth Sucker (''Catostomus latipinnis''), Bluehead Sucker (''Catostomus discobolus''), and Roundtail Chub (''Gila robusta'').

JeffreyJLukas: /* Three additional species of concern */

2024-04-25T16:20:05Z

Three additional species of concern

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:20, 25 April 2024
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	===Three additional species of concern ===		===Three additional species of concern ===

	The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; ~~estimates suggest~~ that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006 [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf]. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.		The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; it is estimated that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006 [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf]. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.

	==Data and tools==		==Data and tools==

JeffreyJLukas: /* Three additional species of concern */

2024-04-25T16:19:10Z

Three additional species of concern

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:19, 25 April 2024
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	===Three additional species of concern ===		===Three additional species of concern ===

	The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; estimates suggest that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.		The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; estimates suggest that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006 [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf]. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.

	==Data and tools==		==Data and tools==

JeffreyJLukas: /* Three additional species of concern */

2024-04-25T16:18:14Z

Three additional species of concern

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:18, 25 April 2024
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	===Three additional species of concern ===		===Three additional species of concern ===

	The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; estimates suggest that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.		The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; estimates suggest that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin [https://cpw.state.co.us/Documents/WildlifeSpecies/SpeciesOfConcern/RecoveryPlans/ChubSuckerRangewideConservationAgreementandStrategy01-04-07.pdf#page=39]. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.

	==Data and tools==		==Data and tools==

JeffreyJLukas: /* Three additional species of concern */

2024-04-25T16:12:49Z

Three additional species of concern

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 25 April 2024
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	===Three additional species of concern ===		===Three additional species of concern ===

	The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; estimates suggest that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.		The Flannelmouth Sucker, Bluehead Sucker, and Roundtail Chub are all warmwater fish historically distributed widely across the basin, including smaller tributaries and streams. The ranges and populations of all three species are declining; estimates suggest that each species occupies about half of its historic range in the Colorado River Basin. None of these species are federally listed as threatened or endangered. The Lower Basin population of Roundtail Chub was a candidate for listing as a Threatened population under ESA, but in 2022 that proposal was withdrawn [https://www.fws.gov/press-release/2022-04/roundtail-dps-negative-12m-pr]. At the state level, all three fish are listed as a species of concern, special concern, or endangered by two or more basin states. A multi-state conservation agreement, known as the "three-species program", was signed in 2006. Conservation of the Flannelmouth Sucker is also covered under the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program.

	==Data and tools==		==Data and tools==

JeffreyJLukas: /* Humpback Chub */

2024-04-25T16:12:03Z

Humpback Chub

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:12, 25 April 2024
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	The Humpback Chub, named for the prominent hump behind its head, is a minnow endemic to the warmwater reaches of the Colorado River Basin. Humpback Chub are able to navigate swift waters despite being relatively small (~20 inches maximum length size) by using its hump as a hydrodynamic foil. The historical range of the Humpback Chub was probably limited to the eddies below rapids in several canyon reaches of the mainstem, including the Grand Canyon, as well as in canyons in the Green, Yampa, and Little Colorado rivers [https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/196747].		The Humpback Chub, named for the prominent hump behind its head, is a minnow endemic to the warmwater reaches of the Colorado River Basin. Humpback Chub are able to navigate swift waters despite being relatively small (~20 inches maximum length size) by using its hump as a hydrodynamic foil. The historical range of the Humpback Chub was probably limited to the eddies below rapids in several canyon reaches of the mainstem, including the Grand Canyon, as well as in canyons in the Green, Yampa, and Little Colorado rivers [https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/196747].

	At the time of its listing as endangered in 1967, two of eight historical populations of Humpback Chub had been extirpated due directly to dams, and a third population is believed to have been extirpated by 2004. However, the Humpback Chub’s largest population, in the Grand Canyon, has expanded in numbers and range in recent years, leading to the downlisting of the species from Endangered to Threatened in 2021.		At the time of its listing as endangered in 1967, two of eight historical populations of Humpback Chub had been extirpated due directly to dams, and a third population is believed to have been extirpated by 2004 [https://ecos.fws.gov/ServCat/DownloadFile/196747]. However, the Humpback Chub’s largest population, in the Grand Canyon, has expanded in numbers and range in recent years, leading to the downlisting of the species from Endangered to Threatened in 2021 [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html].

	===Three additional species of concern ===		===Three additional species of concern ===

JeffreyJLukas: /* Overview */

2024-04-25T16:08:46Z

Overview

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:08, 25 April 2024
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	The Colorado River Basin is home to at least 35 native fish species. At least 26 of these species are endemic to the basin, occurring nowhere else, including four federally-listed threatened or endangered species that were formerly widespread in the basin: Colorado Pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus Iucius''), Razorback sucker (''Xyrauchen texanus''), Bonytail (''Gila elegans''), and Humpback Chub (''Gila cypha'') [https://ocs.fortlewis.edu/drd/pdf/Appendix-D%20_Rangewide-3-Species-Conservation-Agreement_3-7-12.pdf#page=28]. The range and populations of all four species have declined dramatically since the early 1900s due to the combined impacts of dam construction and resulting changes in flow regimes, water temperatures, and water quality; channelization and backwater habitat loss; water diversions and depletions; the introduction and expansion of predatory non-native coldwater species; and overfishing [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf]. The viability and status of these four species of fish–all finely adapted to pre-development river conditions–serves as a general indicator of the ecosystem health of the river system. Two additional federally listed threatened or endangered species, the Woundfin (''Plagopterus argentissimus'') and Virgin River Chub (''Gila seminuda'') are found only in the Virgin River.		The Colorado River Basin is home to at least 35 native fish species. At least 26 of these species are endemic to the basin, occurring nowhere else, including four federally-listed threatened or endangered species that were formerly widespread in the basin: Colorado Pikeminnow (''Ptychocheilus Iucius''), Razorback sucker (''Xyrauchen texanus''), Bonytail (''Gila elegans''), and Humpback Chub (''Gila cypha'') [https://ocs.fortlewis.edu/drd/pdf/Appendix-D%20_Rangewide-3-Species-Conservation-Agreement_3-7-12.pdf#page=28]. The range and populations of all four species have declined dramatically since the early 1900s due to the combined impacts of dam construction and resulting changes in flow regimes, water temperatures, and water quality; channelization and backwater habitat loss; water diversions and depletions; the introduction and expansion of predatory non-native coldwater species; and overfishing [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf]. The viability and status of these four species of fish–all finely adapted to pre-development river conditions–serves as a general indicator of the ecosystem health of the river system. Two additional federally listed threatened or endangered species, the Woundfin (''Plagopterus argentissimus'') and Virgin River Chub (''Gila seminuda'') are found only in the Virgin River.

	Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must avoid actions that are likely to jeopardize the existence of listed species, and must develop programs to conserve critical habitat and recover the species, in partnership with states and other stakeholders [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-2.-findings,-purposes,-and-policy]. The need to meet these directives has resulted in changes to the operation of the basin’s dams and to water diversions, ~~principally~~ to meet species’ instream flow requirements.		Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), federal agencies must avoid actions that are likely to jeopardize the existence of listed species, and must develop programs to conserve critical habitat and recover the species, in partnership with states and other stakeholders [https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/national/endangered-species-conservation/endangered-species-act#section-2.-findings,-purposes,-and-policy]. The need to meet these directives has resulted in changes to the operation of the basin’s dams and to water diversions, to meet species’ instream flow requirements and to facilitate fish passage around diversion structures [https://www.coloradomesa.edu/water-center/documents/cmu2018watercourse-daleryden.pdf].

	In 1988, the need to better coordinate research, monitoring, adaptive management, and recovery of the four species within the Upper Basin led to the creation of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (UCR FRP), which in 1992 was supplemented by a recovery implementation program specific to the San Juan River, the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRB RIP) [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html]. The SJRB RIP focuses specifically on the recovery of the Razorback Sucker and the Colorado Pikeminnow.		In 1988, the need to better coordinate research, monitoring, adaptive management, and recovery of the four species within the Upper Basin led to the creation of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (UCR FRP), which in 1992 was supplemented by a recovery implementation program specific to the San Juan River, the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (SJRB RIP) [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html]. The SJRB RIP focuses specifically on the recovery of the Razorback Sucker and the Colorado Pikeminnow.

JeffreyJLukas: /* Razorback Sucker */

2024-04-25T16:05:32Z

Razorback Sucker

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:05, 25 April 2024
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	===Razorback Sucker===		===Razorback Sucker===

	The Razorback Sucker can be identified by the sharp-edged hump, or razorback, behind its head. The only member of its genus, the Razorback Sucker can grow to 3 feet in length and live for 40 years. The historic range of the Razorback Sucker extended throughout warmwater reaches of the basin, typically in calmer water. The Razorback Sucker was listed as an endangered species in 1991.		The Razorback Sucker can be identified by the sharp-edged hump, or razorback, behind its head. The only member of its genus, the Razorback Sucker can grow to 3 feet in length and live for 40 years. The historic range of the Razorback Sucker extended throughout warmwater reaches of the basin, typically in calmer water. The Razorback Sucker was listed as an endangered species in 1991 [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html ].

	Currently, only the small population in Lake Mead is self-sustaining. The populations in the upper mainstem, Green, Yampa, Gunnison, and San Juan are maintained through hatchery augmentation; hatchery-spawned fish are usually stocked once they reach sub-adult size (~300 mm). The Lake Mohave population consists of fish that were spawned in the wild, brought into captivity, reared to a larger size to resist predation, and stocked back into Lake Mohave. The Razorback Sucker was proposed for downlisting in 2021 [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html], but as of early 2024 its status remains “endangered”.		Currently, only the small population in Lake Mead is self-sustaining. The populations in the upper mainstem, Green, Yampa, Gunnison, and San Juan are maintained through hatchery augmentation; hatchery-spawned fish are usually stocked once they reach sub-adult size (~300 mm). The Lake Mohave population consists of fish that were spawned in the wild, brought into captivity, reared to a larger size to resist predation, and stocked back into Lake Mohave. The Razorback Sucker was proposed for downlisting in 2021 [https://wildlife.utah.gov/news/utah-wildlife-news/1716-fiftieth-anniversary-of-the-endangered-species-act-and-how-the-dwr-and-partnering-agencies-are-helping-listed-fish-species-recover.html], but as of early 2024 its status remains “endangered”.