Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Program Highlights 2001-2002 is a publication of the

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program. These programs represent

the broad interests of public, private, and tribal 

partners dedicated to recovering endangered fishes

while water development proceeds in compliance

with State and Federal laws. This document is not a

publication of the U.S. Department of the Interior or

its agencies.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 

Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery 

Implementation Program

Program Highlights

2001-2002 
1 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Geographic Scope

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

Program covers the Colorado River and its tributaries in

Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.

The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

covers the San Juan River and its tributaries in Colorado,

Utah, and New Mexico.

Farmington
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 2

Requested FY 2003 Congressional Action Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3&4

Extension of the Cooperative Agreement: Secretary of the Interior Joins Governors and 

Western Area Power Administration to Extend Model Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Long-term Funding Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

Endangered Fish Status and Recovery Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7&8

Program Overview

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Highlights of Recovery Program Accomplishments

Habitat Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Habitat Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Nonnative Species, Sportfishing, and Public Information and Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Endangered Fish Propagation and Stocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Research, Monitoring, and Data Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

Recovery Goals Provide Measures for Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Water Project Consultations Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

Program Expenditures

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Preserving the West’s Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Table Of Contents 
3 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Requested FY 2003 

Congressional Action Items

Fish and Wildlife Service Funding

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ $700,000 requested in Region 6’s “recovery” funds

◆ $444,000 requested for operation and maintenance of Ouray National Fish Hatchery

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ $154,000 requested in Region 2’s “recovery” funds

Bureau of Reclamation Funding

◆ $6,297,000 in “Endangered Species Recovery Programs and Activities” for the Upper Colorado Region.

($4,464,000 for Upper Colorado River; $1,328,000 for San Juan River Basin; $50,000 for Water and Energy 

Management and Development; and $455,000 for Fish and Wildlife Management and Development)

Details of these requests follow.

Participants in the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program are requesting the following of Congress for Fiscal Year 2003:

Fish and Wildlife Service Budget

1. Support Fish and Wildlife Service funds for the Upper 

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program 

($700,000 requested in “recovery” funds).

Projects to be funded are:

◆ Fish and Wildlife Service program management:

Funding covers salaries and expenses of Program Director 

and staff.

◆ Population estimation and monitoring program:

This activity supports Service participation in estimating 

the abundance of fish populations, evaluating stocking,

and monitoring fish and habitat response to recovery 

actions. Monitoring is key to tracking progress toward 

meeting the downlisting and delisting criteria of the 

recovery goals.

◆ Data management: The Service maintains all fish data 

collected under the Recovery Program in computerized 

form to facilitate analysis. This includes maintaining the 

overall database, summarizing data, and providing an 

annual listing of all tagged fish.

2. Support Fish and Wildlife Service funds for operation 

of the Ouray National Fish Hatchery ($444,000 

requested for fish hatchery operation and annual 

maintenance).

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery 

Program requests congressional support for the continued

allocation of $344,000 in appropriated base operation 

and maintenance funds (“Fisheries Activity; Hatchery 

O&M Subactivity”) to support the current operation of 

the Service’s Ouray National Fish Hatchery in Utah for 

Fiscal Year 2003. If an additional $100,000 (total 

$444,000) were available, the Service could achieve full 

production of endangered razorback sucker in 2003, in 

line with Recovery Program stocking needs to 

achieve recovery goals.

3. Support Fish and Wildlife Service funding for the San 

Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 

($154,000 requested in “recovery” funds).

Projects to be funded are:

◆ Fish and Wildlife Service program management:

Funds partial salary for the Program Coordinator and 

Assistant, printing costs for reports, publications, research 

and monitoring.
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 4

◆ Diversion canal screening: Funds are needed to design 

and construct a screen at the Redlands Diversion Canal to

prevent endangered fish from being drawn out of the 

river and into the canals. Adult endangered fish use the 

habitat above the diversion. Funds are also needed to 

construct a screen at the Grand Valley Project on the 

Colorado River in Colorado to prevent fish from being 

trapped in irrigation canals and the power plant intakes.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation 

Program Activities

◆ The funds in FY 2003 will be used to repay the Bureau 

of Indian Affairs for a portion of the work already 

completed on the fish passage at Hogback Diversion and 

removal of Cudei Diversion, an impediment to the 

movement of endangered fish. In addition, studies on the

feasibility of fish passage at the Arizona Public Service 

weir will be completed.

Bureau of Reclamation Budget

1. Support Bureau of Reclamation funds for the Upper 

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery and San Juan

River Basin Recovery Implementation Programs.

Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin Recovery 

Program participants request congressional support for 

$6,297,000 for FY 2003 in “Endangered Species 

Recovery Implementation Programs” and for Bureau of 

Reclamation Upper Colorado region. This amount would 

provide the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 

Recovery Program with $4,464,000; the San Juan River 

Basin Recovery Implementation Program with 

$1,328,000; $50,000 for Water and Energy Management 

and Development; and $455,000 for Fish and Wildlife 

Management and Development. The $4,464,000 

supported by upper basin Recovery Program participants,

would be used for water acquisition and capital 

construction projects including:

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 

Recovery Program Activities

◆ Fish Passage: Funds will be used to restore fish passage 

on the Colorado River at the Grand Valley Project. This 

activity will benefit razorback sucker and Colorado 

pikeminnow by providing access to historic habitat, and 

will support expanded populations to achieve recovery 

goals.

◆ Water acquisition: Funds will be used to complete 

modification and automation of canals to more efficiently

operate irrigation projects near Grand Junction, Colorado,

and dedicate the “saved” water to the endangered fishes 

consistent with State water law.

◆ Nonnative fish control: Funds are needed to modify at 

least 20 ponds/year to prevent nonnative fish from 

escaping into the river where they may harm the 

endangered fishes. Funds also are needed to design and 

install a fish barrier on Elkhead Reservoir to prevent 

nonnative fish from escaping into the Yampa River.

◆ Floodplain restoration: Funds are needed to continue 

land acquisition, levee removal, and other floodplain 

restoration activities at high-priority sites. Restoring 

these floodplains is especially important for the razorback

sucker and will benefit a variety of wetland-dependent 

wildlife.

◆ Endangered fish propagation and stocking ponds:

Funds will be used to complete construction at the 

Wahweap State Fish Hatchery, Utah, to expand the facility 

to meet stocking and facility-needs plans. Funds are also 

needed to purchase “passive integrated transponders” to 

tag stocked fish to evaluate stocking success.

Construction is slated to begin in 2003 on a fish passage for the Grand Valley

Project Diversion Dam near Grand Junction, Colorado.

Removal of the Cudei Diversion Dam on the San Juan River improved habitat

for endangered fish by restoring the natural channel. A stub of the dam was

left in place to prevent erosion.

Ron Bliesner, Keller-Bliesner Engineering Debbie Felker
5 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Extension of the Cooperative Agreement

Secretary of the Interior Joins Governors and Western Area Power

Administration to Extend Model Program

National and State leaders sign an extension of the Recovery Program’s Cooperative Agreement at Colorado’s State Capitol in December. Pictured from left:

Western Area Power Administration Administrator Mike Hacskaylo, Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer, Colorado Governor Bill Owens and Department of the

Interior Secretary Gale Norton. Utah Governor Mike Leavitt joined the agreement at a separate signing.

Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton

joined Colorado Governor Bill Owens, Wyoming

Governor Jim Geringer, and Western Area Power

Administration Administrator Mike Hacskaylo in signing a

cooperative agreement extending the Upper Colorado River

Endangered Fish Recovery Program another 10 years.

At the December 6, 2001, ceremony, held at Colorado’s State

Capitol, the parties renewed their commitment to a nationally

recognized endangered species recovery program that allows

for continued water development under State law. Utah

Governor Mike Leavitt joined the agreement at a separate 

signing.

“Today’s signing ceremony signifies how far we’ve come in

successfully implementing cooperative programs for conservation,” Norton said. “When this program began 12 years ago, it

was the first of its kind. Never before had such a mix of State

and Federal organizations come together formally to work

side-by-side with private water and power developers and

environmental organizations.

“I commend all of the program’s partners for developing creative and effective ways to meet the dual goals of endangered

species recovery and water development.”

As a result of the cooperative effort, biologists see signs of

recovery in both the humpback chub and Colorado

pikeminnow populations.They are also re-establishing bonytail

and razorback sucker populations. Overall habitat for native

fish in the river has improved and water development for agricultural, municipal and hydroelectric projects has been able to

continue.

“The Program’s early years consisted of extensive research into

the habitat and life requirements of the fish species,” Recovery

Program Director Bob Muth said. “We are now at a juncture

where recommended management actions are improving the

quality of river habitat.”

Yolietta Cook
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 6

Long-term Funding Legislation

Public Law 106-392 Allows Unique Cost-Sharing Strategy 

To Fund Recovery Efforts

Power Revenues

The Secretary of Energy, acting through the Western Area Power

Administration (WAPA), is authorized to use up to $17 million

of CRSP power revenues for capital projects. These revenues are

treated as a non-Federal contribution, but are reimbursable costs

assigned to power for repayment under section 5 of the CRSP

Act. PL 106-392 requires that the power revenue and State funding match on a rolling two-year basis. Power revenue funding

may come from a loan provided to WAPA from the Colorado

Water Conservation Board Construction Fund.

Base Program Funding Stabilized

PL 106-392 also provides up to $6 million per year (adjusted

annually for inflation) of CRSP hydropower revenues for base

(non-capital) funding for the two Recovery Programs.Through

2011, annual “base” funding of up to $4 million may be 

provided for the Upper Colorado Program and up to $2 million

may be provided for the San Juan Program. After 2011, power

revenues may only be used to operate and maintain the capital

projects and for monitoring, unless Congress authorizes 

additional funding.

Cost-sharing by the Four Participating States

Upper Colorado River San Juan 

Rec. Program Rec. Program

Colorado $ 9.146 M $ 8.065 M $ 1.081 M

Utah 3.422 M 3.422 M 0.000 M

New Mexico 2.744 M 0.000 M 2.744 M

Wyoming 1.688 M 1.688 M 0.000 M

Total $ 17.000 M Total $ 13.175 M Total $ 3.825 M

The success of both Recovery Programs depends on obtaining sufficient funds to implement recovery actions

such as those identified in the Upper Colorado River

Endangered Fish Recovery Action Plan. To meet these funding

needs, Public Law 106-392 was signed on October 30, 2000,

authorizing the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) to provide

cost-sharing for capital construction projects for the Upper

Colorado River and San Juan River Recovery Programs. Capital

construction is not to exceed $100 million: $82 million

through 2005 for the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program

and $18 million through 2007 for the San Juan River Recovery

Implementation Program.

Capital construction for these programs includes building

hatchery facilities to produce endangered fish for stocking,

restoring floodplain habitat and fish passage, regulating and/or

supplying instream habitat flows, installing screens to prevent

fish entrapment in canals, and removing and/or relocating nonnative fishes.

PL 106-392 authorizes up to $46 million of congressional

appropriations to the USBR toward the cost of completing capital projects for the two Recovery Programs. These funds are

declared to be a nonreimbursable Federal expenditure.

State Funding

The four participating States and power revenues each will contribute $17 million, and P.L. 106-392 recognizes the contribution of $20 million in expenditures that have been incurred for 

replacement power purchases due to modified operation of 

Congress: $ 46 million

Total $ 46 million

the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) hydropower facilities

and the capital cost of water released from Wolford Mountain

Reservoir in Colorado to benefit the endangered fish.

Established Cost-sharing of Capital Construction for 

the Upper Colorado and San Juan Recovery Programs

Upper Colorado Recovery Program .................... $ 82 million

San Juan Recovery Program ............................... $ 18 million

Total $100 million

Sources of Revenue (Cost-sharing)

Federal Non-Federal

Power Revs: $ 17 million

States: $ 17 million

Water & Power: $ 20 million

Total $ 54 million
7 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Endangered Fish

Status and Recovery Highlights

Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Recovery Programs

Recovery Highlights

◆ Current populations in the Green and Colorado rivers 

meet or exceed the downlisting demographic criteria in 

the draft recovery goals (see page 15).

Bonytail

Status

◆ This is the rarest of the four endangered 

Colorado River fish species. Before 

stocking began, bonytail had virtually disappeared in the 

Upper Colorado River Basin.

Recovery Highlights

◆ More than 187,000 bonytail have been raised and stocked

in the Colorado and Green rivers. Of those, 10,000 were 

reintroduced in the Colorado River in Colorado for the 

first time in 2001. Another 28,000 were stocked in the 

Colorado River in Utah. More than 56,500 went into the 

Green and Yampa rivers in 2001.

◆ Some stocked fish have been recaptured, indicating at least

short-term survival.

Humpback Chub

Status

◆ Populations appear healthy and stable in areas of the Upper 

Colorado River Basin where they occur. The population at 

Black Rocks and Westwater Canyon, near the Colorado-Utah 

border, is estimated at 2,200 adults. The Yampa Canyon and 

Cataract Canyon populations are small, consisting of about 500

adults. Data for Desolation/Gray Canyons have not 

been fully analyzed.

◆ The State of Colorado downlisted the 

humpback chub from“State-endangered”

to“State-threatened” in 1998.
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 8

Illustrations © Joseph R. Tomelleri

Razorback Sucker

Status

◆ The population continues to decline in some areas of the 

Upper Colorado River Basin. Because of its scarcity, this species

has been given highest priority for hatchery raising and 

stocking.

◆ The Green River population contains fewer than 500 wild 

adults. These fish comprise a spawning population.

◆ Despite the relatively low numbers of razorback sucker that 

have been stocked in the San Juan River, some have survived to

adulthood and successful spawning by stocked fish has been 

documented.

Recovery Highlights

◆ Nearly 50,000 razorback sucker have been raised and 

stocked in the Upper Colorado River Basin to date.

Another 16,200, 12-inch razorback sucker will be stocked 

in the fall of 2002.

◆ An estimated 14,800, 12-inch razorback sucker will be 

stocked in the Green River system in the fall of 2002.

◆ Some stocked fish in the Green River have been recaptured 

at spawning sites, indicating that they are becoming part 

of the wild population.

◆ In the San Juan River, 6,835 adult and subadult razorback 

sucker have been stocked since 1994. Approximately 

2,000 adult fish will be stocked in 2002.

Recovery Highlights

◆ Current populations in the Colorado and Green rivers 

meet or exceed the downlisting demographic criteria in 

the draft recovery goals (see page 15).

◆ In 2001, 148 adult Colorado pikeminnow were stocked in

the San Juan River. In addition, approximately 200,000 

fingerlings are expected to be stocked in the fall 2002.

Colorado Pikeminnow

Status

◆ Since 1991, the abundance estimates for adult Colorado 

pikeminnow in the Colorado River have tripled. The current 

population estimate is 700 adults. Recent estimates in the 

Green River system place the number of adults at about 5,000.

◆ The State of Colorado downlisted the Colorado pikeminnow 

from “State-endangered” to “State-threatened” in 1998.

◆ In the San Juan River, the wild Colorado pikeminnow 

population appears to be less than 50 adults. A stocking 

program is being implemented.
9 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Program Overview

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

Program is a cooperative partnership created to recover the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado

pikeminnow, and razorback sucker while allowing for continued and future water development. The Recovery Program was

initiated in 1988 when a cooperative agreement was signed by

the Governors of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; the Secretary

of the Interior; and the Administrator of Western Area Power

Administration.

Program Partners

◆ Colorado River Energy Distributors Association

◆ Colorado Water Congress

◆ Environmental Defense

◆ National Park Service

◆ State of Colorado

◆ State of Utah

◆ State of Wyoming

◆ The Nature Conservancy

◆ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

◆ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

◆ Utah Water Users Association

◆ Western Area Power Administration

◆ Wyoming Water Association

Program Elements

◆ Habitat management includes developing river flow 

recommendations, identifying and acquiring instream 

flows, changing operations at Federal dams, and 

operating other reservoirs in a coordinated manner to 

benefit the endangered fishes.

◆ Habitat development includes restoring floodplain/

wetland habitats, constructing fish passageways around 

dams and other barriers in the river, and installing fish 

screens to prevent endangered fish from becoming 

trapped in diversion canals.

◆ Nonnative species and sportfishing entails managing 

detrimental nonnative fish species in habitat considered 

“critical” to endangered fish. This also involves educating 

and distributing information to anglers to reduce 

accidental capture of endangered fish.

◆ Endangered fish propagation and stocking involves 

establishing facilities to hold adult broodstock to prevent 

extinction of these rare fish and maintain their genetic 

resources; developing growout ponds; conducting 

research to improve survival of endangered fish raised in 

captivity and stocked in the wild; and supporting State 

stocking and reintroduction efforts.

◆ Research, monitoring, and data management provides 

information about what the endangered fishes need to 

survive, grow, and reproduce in the wild. Efforts include 

compiling data on the numbers, sizes, and locations of 

endangered fishes and developing population estimates to

monitor progress toward achieving recovery goals.

The State of Colorado’s J. W. Mumma Native Aquatic Species Restoration

Facility in Alamosa, Colorado, will begin to raise Colorado 

pikeminnow this summer.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Mike Montagne readies eggs for

hatching during the process of raising razorback sucker at the Grand Valley

Endangered Fish Hatchery near Grand Junction, Colorado.

Debbie Felker

Colorado Division of Wildlife
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 10

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation

Program was established in 1992 to protect and 

recover Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker in

the San Juan River Basin while water development proceeds in

compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws, including

fulfillment of Federal trust responsibilities to several Native

American tribes. It is anticipated that actions taken under this

Recovery Program to recover the Colorado pikeminnow and

razorback sucker will also provide benefits to other native 

fishes in the basin and prevent them from becoming

endangered in the future.

Program Partners

◆ Jicarilla Apache Nation

◆ Navajo Nation

◆ Southern Ute Indian Tribe

◆ Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

◆ State of Colorado

◆ State of New Mexico

◆ U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

◆ U.S. Bureau of Land Management

◆ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

◆ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

◆ Water Development Interests

Program Elements

◆ Protection of genetic integrity and management and 

augmentation of populations involves completing 

genetics management and augmentation plans,

establishing refugia with stock taken from the wild, and 

augmenting wild populations of endangered fish species.

◆ Protection, management, and augmentation of habitat

involves identifying important reaches of the San Juan 

River for different life stages of the endangered fish by 

mapping current conditions, determining relationships 

between flow and habitat, and determining flow needs.

In addition, augmentation of habitat includes providing 

fish passage around migration barriers.

◆ Water quality protection and enhancement involves 

monitoring existing water quality conditions, evaluating 

historic information, identifying types and sources of 

contamination, and investigating changes in water 

chemistry.

◆ Interactions between native and nonnative fish species

involves determining the distribution and abundance of 

nonnative species, identifying and characterizing habitats 

used by the nonnative fish, discontinuing stocking of 

nonnative species in areas where endangered fish occur,

and control of nonnatives through removal efforts.

◆ Monitoring and data management is needed to evaluate 

status and trends of endangered fish species as well as 

other native and nonnative species and to define the 

Recovery Program’s overall success in achieving recovery 

goals.

Large Colorado pikeminnow are occasionally found in the Colorado River 

system as biologists, like Mark Fuller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, conduct

research activities related to recovery of the species.

Biologists electrofish to locate and remove channel catfish downstream of

the Public Service New Mexico diversion on the San Juan River.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service San Juan River Recovery Program
2001-2002 Program Highlights

Habitat Management

Highlights of

Recovery Program Accomplishments

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ Since 1988, the Service has consulted on 649 water 

projects depleting approximately 1,675,000 acre-feet per 

year in the upper basin using the Recovery Program as a 

reasonable and prudent alternative. The Service simplified

the section 7 consultation process, and waives depletion 

charges for water projects that deplete less than 100 acrefeet of water per year.

◆ Canal checks were installed in the Government Highline 

Canal to improve efficiency and reduce diversions by 

more than 28,000 acre-feet per year on average. This 

reduced the diversion demand up to 400 cubic feet per

second. The “saved” water remains in the river and is 

legally protected for the endangered fishes.

◆ During late summer 2001, public and private cooperation

resulted in the release of 64,577 acre-feet of water from 

Green Mountain, Ruedi, Wolford Mountain, and Williams 

Fork reservoirs to help meet Service flow recommendations for endangered fish in the Colorado River.

◆ Recovery Program participants coordinated spring 

operations of several Colorado reservoirs in recent years 

to provide additional flows in the Colorado River. On 

average, about 2,500 cubic feet per second have been 

added to the spring peak when flows are predicted to be 

in a range that can create and maintain endangered fish 

habitat.

◆ The Bureau of Reclamation is preparing an environmental

impact statement (EIS) on the operation of Flaming Gorge

Dam to benefit endangered fishes. The final EIS is slated 

for completion in 2003.

◆ A draft management plan for the Yampa River was 

completed in October 2001, detailing specific actions the 

Recovery Program deems necessary to recover the 

endangered fishes. A programmatic biological opinion 

(PBO) will be completed this fall to determine if the plan

satisfies the requirements of the Endangered Species Act 

for existing and future water development projects. The 

PBO will simplify future section 7 consultations for 

Colorado and Wyoming water development in the Yampa 

River Basin.

◆ Research began in 2001 to develop a temperature model 

for the Gunnison River to explore ways of warming the 

water to improve fish habitat.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ The Bureau of Reclamation proposes to operate Navajo 

Dam and Reservoir to implement flow recommendations 

on the San Juan River. An environmental impact statement

is currently being written for the implementation of the 

flow recommendations and a draft is expected to be 

released in 2002.

◆ The Recovery Program is evaluating the need for further 

habitat improvement for all life stages of the endangered 

fishes.

The Grand Valley Irrigation Company cooperated to install a screen at its

diversion dam on the Colorado River near Palisade, Colorado. Slated for 

completion in spring 2002, the screen will prevent endangered fish from 

becoming trapped in the canal.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

11
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 12

Habitat Development

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ Five razorback suckers used the 350-foot-long fish ladder 

at the Redlands Diversion Dam on the Gunnison River for

the first time during summer 2001, confirming that this 

species can negotiate this type of passageway. Since the 

ladder was completed in 1996, it has been used by 52 

Colorado pikeminnow and more than 45,000 other 

native fish.

◆ A fish passage was completed in January 1998 at the 

Grand Valley Irrigation Company (GVIC) Diversion Dam 

on the Colorado River. GVIC cooperated to install a 

screen in 2002 to protect endangered fish from being 

swept into the canal.

◆ Construction is slated to begin in 2003 on a fish passage 

for the Grand Valley Project Diversion Dam. Once this 

and Price-Stubb passage restoration are completed,

endangered fish will have access to an additional 53 miles

of historic habitat.

◆ The Recovery Program sponsored a workshop in 

November 2001 to review the habitat-restoration 

program. Workshop findings and continued evaluation of

the habitat-restoration program will guide future 

Recovery Program actions to provide habitat for 

endangered fish.

◆ Floodplain/wetland habitat has been improved at five 

Bureau of Land Management sites on the Green River,

three sites at Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, two sites on

the Colorado River near Grand Junction and at the 

Escalante State Wildlife Area on the Gunnison River.

◆ The Recovery Program has acquired 976 acres of floodplain/wetland habitat along the Green, Colorado, and 

Gunnison rivers. Offers are active on an additional 

98 acres along the Colorado River.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ Flow regimes to restore native fish habitat have been 

implemented.

◆ Fish passage at the Hogback Diversion Dam was 

completed in 2001 and the Cudei Diversion Dam was 

removed. Construction of the fish passage structure at 

the Public Service Company of New Mexico weir will 

be completed in 2002. Fiscal Year 2003 funds will be 

used to construct fish passage at the Arizona Public 

Service weir.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ To date, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources,

Colorado Division of Wildlife, and the Service have 

removed more than 24,900 nonnative channel catfish;

23,889 nonnative sunfish and bass; and 319,500 

nonnative minnows from rivers in the Upper Colorado 

River Basin.

◆ In 2001, a total of 500 northern pike were removed from

the Yampa River and translocated to Rio Blanco Reservoir 

and Yampa State Wildlife Area ponds in northwest 

Colorado. Biologists removed 250 northern pike from 

the Green River by September 2001.

◆ Chemical reclamation of ponds adjacent to the Colorado 

and Gunnison rivers to reduce sources contributing nonnative fishes to riverine habitats began in 1998. As of 

August 2001, 127 ponds had been surveyed. Of those 32

were chemically reclaimed. An additional 23 ponds are 

targeted through 2003.

◆ A fish barrier net installed in 1999 in Highline Lake 

Reservoir near Grand Junction, Colorado, has effectively 

kept sportfish and endangered fish apart. This effort has 

resulted in warmwater fishing opportunities that are 

compatible with endangered fish recovery. Similar 

separation devices are being considered for other 

reservoirs.

◆ The Recovery Program sponsored a workshop in February

2002 to evaluate the effects of nonnative fish removal 

efforts on native and endangered fish populations.

Workshop findings will guide future Recovery Program 

actions to reduce the impacts of nonnative fishes on 

endangered fishes.

Completion of fish passage in 2001 at the Hogback Diversion Dam on the San

Juan River gives endangered fish access to an additional 8 miles 

of historic habitat.

Nonnative Species, Sportfishing, and Public Information/Involvement

Ron Bliesner, Keller-Bliesner Engineering

(Continued on next page)
13 2001-2002 Program Highlights

◆ Recovery Program participants coordinate public 

involvement activities for key Recovery Program actions,

including Colorado instream-flow acquisition,

construction of fish passageways, coordinated reservoir 

operations, water releases from Ruedi Reservoir,

nonnative fish management actions, acquisition and 

restoration of wetland habitat, and Yampa River and 

Grand Valley water management.

◆ The Recovery Program produces a wide range of 

educational materials, including a newsletter, fact sheets,

and interpretive exhibits.

◆ The Recovery Program maintains a web site at 

http://www.r6.fws.gov/coloradoriver.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ In the San Juan River system, nonnative fish can be an 

impediment to the survival of native fish. Some species,

such as channel catfish, are being directly controlled 

while control of other species, such as the red shiner, is 

being attempted through restoration of the natural flow 

regime and restoration of river habitat. Resources are 

also focused on the removal of striped bass as they enter 

the river from Lake Powell during spring runoff.

◆ The effort to remove nonnative fish has increased and 

will be further expanded in 2002. The additional efforts 

have resulted in removal of large numbers of channel catfish and common carp from the system. In addition, the 

mean size of channel catfish in the Hogback to the Public 

Service Company of New Mexico weir reach has been 

reduced from 19 inches in 1999 to 16 inches in 2001.

This benefits the endangered fishes by removing 

spawning catfish from the system.

◆ The Recovery Program is working with the Navajo Nation

and the State of New Mexico to transplant nonnative fish 

from the river to local lakes.

◆ Full participation of the public in the San Juan River 

Recovery Implementation Program is invited through 

public meetings. The Recovery Program also maintains a 

web site at http://southwest.fws.gov/sjrip.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ The Recovery Program funds operations of four hatchery 

facilities in Colorado and Utah:

• The Grand Valley Endangered Fish Facility (Grand 

Junction, Colorado) produced nearly 50,000 razorback 

sucker to be placed in growout ponds in spring 2002 

and stocked in the Colorado and Gunnison rivers in fall 

2002.

• The J.W. Mumma Native Aquatic Species Restoration 

Facility (Alamosa, Colorado) is celebrating its second 

year of operation and is raising 25,000 bonytail and 

15,000 razorback sucker. This summer, the facility will 

begin to raise Colorado pikeminnow.

• The Wahweap State Fish Hatchery (Big Water, Utah) 

raised 94,000, 4-to 6-inch bonytail in 2001 that were 

stocked in the Colorado and Green rivers. The hatchery 

will produce more than 15,000, 8-inch bonytail to 

stock in fall 2002.

• The Ouray National Fish Hatchery (Ouray, Utah) raised 

and stocked more than 11,000 razorback sucker for the 

Green River system. More than 13,000, 12-inch 

razorback sucker will be stocked in fall 2002.

• All four facilities use off-site, private and public ponds 

to expand their ability to raise greater numbers of fish.

Private citizens, and city and State agencies donate or 

lease ponds to the Recovery Program.

In Page, Arizona, high school students raise razorback 

sucker in donated golf course ponds. The Colorado 

Department of Transportation donated the use of a 

pond — also for razorback sucker. In another 

cooperative move, the Service modified existing ponds 

at the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge in Utah to raise 

endangered fish.

◆ The States of Colorado and Utah revised their 

endangered fish stocking plans to larger, but fewer, fish.

This change is anticipated to reestablish populations of 

razorback sucker and bonytail in a more timely manner.

Endangered Fish Propagation and Stocking

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Biologist Quent Bradwisch teaches high

school students how to take eggs from a razorback sucker. As part of their

science curriculum, the students are raising razorback sucker in public golf

course ponds in Page, Arizona.

Nonnative species, sportfishing (continued from previous page)

Debbie Felker
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ In 2001, 16.5 surface acres of new growout ponds for 

razorback sucker were built on Navajo Indian Irrigation 

Project lands. This brings the total pond space to 25 

surface acres. The new growout ponds were filled with 

water in the fall of 2001 and will be stocked with larval 

razorback sucker in the spring 2002.

◆ So far, approximately 6,800 razorback sucker have been 

stocked in the San Juan River. Young razorback sucker 

found in the river indicate that formerly stocked razorback sucker are surviving and spawning.

◆ In 2001, 148 adult Colorado pikeminnow were stocked 

in the San Juan River and approximately 800,000 larval 

Colorado pikeminnow have been stocked to date. It is 

anticipated that 200,000 Colorado pikeminnow fingerlings will be stocked in the fall 2002.

◆ The San Juan River Biology Committee is finalizing the 

genetics and augmentation plans for both the Colorado 

pikeminnow and the razorback sucker. These plans will 

outline the number of fish that will be stocked to help 

achieve the recovery goals.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ Collections of young razorback sucker and Colorado 

pikeminnow in the Green and Yampa rivers were used to 

help manage releases from Flaming Gorge Dam. Seasonal 

releases from the dam are patterned to enhance habitat 

conditions for endangered fishes.

◆ Colorado pikeminnow collected from the Colorado River 

near Grand Junction, Colorado, were relocated to river 

sections above nearby diversion dams. This work is part 

of efforts to expand populations into historic habitats that

have been inaccessible since the early 1900’s. Biologists 

radio-track the fish to monitor their survival, movements,

and habitat preferences.

◆ Cooperative efforts of State, Federal, and private agencies 

resulted in successful implementation of extensive studies

to develop reliable abundance estimates for endangered 

fish populations. This endeavor involves several 

populations scattered across hundreds of river miles, and 

is perhaps the largest of its kind ever attempted for freshwater fishes. Results are used to measure progress toward

achieving demographic recovery criteria for 

self-sustaining populations (see page 15).

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ Research activities continue with the completion of the 

population model, water temperature analysis and 

modeling, characterization of the spawning bar being 

utilized by razorback sucker, and a determination of the 

occurrence of hybridization of razorback sucker.

◆ The Program continues to monitor the fish community in

the San Juan River, the drifting larval fish, the channel 

morphology, and water temperature and quality.

◆ The integration report, proposed for completion in 2002,

will integrate data collected and determine the response.

Data will be used to evaluate and update flow 

recommendations as well as the standardized monitoring 

and long-range plans.

◆ During 2002, a peer review panel will assist the Biology 

Committee in the integration of research findings and 

monitoring data to assess response of the endangered 

fishes and habitats to Recovery Program activities,

including flow recommendation implementation,

stocking, and nonnative species control.

◆ A Hydrology Committee was established in 2001 to 

review and evaluate all hydrology-related information 

pertinent to the San Juan Program. The Committee is 

responsible for reviewing the current model and 

providing recommendations for model improvements.

The Committee is also charged with evaluating any 

proposed changes to the operating rules for Federal 

reservoirs in the San Juan Basin.

◆ The Hydrology Committee is currently revising data 

regarding irrigated acreages and other diversions in 

Colorado and New Mexico. Data sets are also being 

extended back to 1929.

Research, Monitoring, and Data Management

Biologists electrofish in search of Colorado pikeminnow. Once netted, the

fish are weighed, measured and tagged as part of estimating the number of

Colorado pikeminnow in the Green River.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

14
After more than two years of collaboration with States,

water and power providers, environmental organizations, Native American tribes, and Department of the

Interior agencies, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service)

has developed draft recovery goals for the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback

sucker of the Colorado River Basin. The goals define the basis

for recovery of the fishes in the upper and lower basins by

specifying the numbers of fish comprising self-sustaining 

populations (see table below) and identifying management

actions/tasks required to downlist and delist the species. The

goals also provide estimates of time to achieve recovery.

Upon completion of the recovery goals, the Upper Colorado

River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan

River Basin Recovery Implementation Program will use this

important information to further focus and expand their

aggressive efforts to bring the four fish species back from the

brink of extinction. The Recovery Programs will stock hatchery-produced fish, control nonnative fishes, and improve 

15 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Recovery Goals Provide Measures 

For Success

habitat to maintain or restore populations and remove the

species from the Endangered Species list. Consistent with the 

governing documents of the Upper Colorado River and San

Juan River Recovery Programs, the recovery goals adhere to 

State and Federal laws related to the Colorado River System

(“Law of the River”), including State water law, interstate

compacts, and Federal trust responsibilities to Native

American tribes.

The draft recovery goals are comprehensive, biologically 

sound, and provide reasonable criteria for recovery. However,

research-based adaptive management may lead to modification of some assumptions upon which the species were listed.

Monitoring populations will help guide this process, and

population estimates will serve as the starting place against

which recovery progress is measured.

A Notice of Availability of the draft recovery goals was 

published in the Federal Register on September 10, 2001. The

Service is now reviewing and responding to more than 80

comments received and is developing final goals that are

expected to be published in 2002.

PROPOSED DEMOGRAPHIC CRITERIA FOR RECOVERY

DOWNLISTING DELISTING

Humpback Chub

Over a 5-year monitoring period:

• Maintain the six populations (“no net loss”)

• One core population in upper basin > 2,100 adults

• One core population in lower basin > 2,100 adults

Bonytail

Over a 5-year monitoring period:

• Maintain reestablished populations in Green River and upper

Colorado River subbasins, each > 4,400 adults

• Maintain established genetic refuge of adults in lower basin

• Maintain two reestablished populations in lower basin,

each > 4,400 adults

Colorado Pikeminnow

Over a 5-year monitoring period:

• Maintain the upper basin metapopulation

• Maintain populations in Green River and upper Colorado River

subbasins (no net loss”)

• Green River subbasin population > 2,600 adults

• Upper Colorado River subbasin population > 700 adults

• Establish 1,000 age 5+ subadults in San Juan River

Razorback Sucker

Over a 5-year monitoring period:

• Maintain reestablished populations in Green River subbasin

and EITHER in upper Colorado River subbasin or in San Juan 

River, each > 5,800 adults

• Maintain established genetic refuge of adults in Lake Mohave

• Maintain two reestablished populations in lower basin,

each > 5,800 adults

For 3 years beyond downlisting:

• Maintain the six populations (“no net loss”)

• Two core populations in upper basin > 2,100 adults

• One core population in lower basin > 2,100 adults

For 3 years beyond downlisting:

• Maintain populations in Green River and upper

Colorado River subbasins, each > 4,400 adults

• Maintain genetic refuge of adults in lower basin

• Maintain two populations in lower basin, each

> 4,400 adults

For 7 years beyond downlisting:

• Maintain the upper basin metapopulation

• Maintain populations in Green River and upper

Colorado River subbasins (“no net loss”)

• Green River subbasin population > 2,600 adults

• Upper Colorado River subbasin population > 1,000

adults OR Upper Colorado River subbasin population

> 700 adults and San Juan River population > 800 adults

For 3 years beyond downlisting:

• Maintain populations in Green River subbasin and EITHER 

in upper Colorado River subbasin or in San Juan River,

each > 5,800 adults

• Maintain genetic refuge of adults in Lake Mohave

• Maintain two populations in lower basin, each > 5,800

adults
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 16

Table 1

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Summary of Section 7 Consultations

(1/1988 through 12/31/2001)

Table 2

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Summary of Section 7 Consultations

State Acre-feet/yr Acre-feet/yr Acre-feet/yr

New Mexico 1,3 590,863.00 3,000.00 593,863.00

Colorado 2,3 184,714.00 57,100.00 241,814.00

Utah 3 9,140.00 0.00 9,140.00

Totals 784,717.00 60,100.00 844,817.00

1 New depletion includes minor depletions (less than 100 AF), estimated at 3,000 AF. 2 New depletion associated with Animas-La Plata Project. 3 Source: 2000 Animas-La Plata Project Biological Opinion.

Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act

Number of

State Consultations Acre-feet/yr Acre-feet/yr Acre-feet/yr Depletion Fees4

Colorado 1 191 1,024,831.44 134,275.82 1,159,107.26 $ 440,844

Utah 28 421,867.74 65,793.95 487,661.69 454,866

Wyoming 34 4,433.39 16,885.22 21,318.61 168,575

Regional 2,3 396 0.00 6,000.00 6,000.00 0

Totals 649 1,451,132.57 222,954.99 1,674,087.56 $ 1,064,285

1 Depletion amounts include the 15-Mile Reach Programmatic Biological Opinion, 12/20/99, on 1 million AF/yr of historic depletions (through

September 30, 1995) and up to 120,000 AF/yr of new depletions (since September 30, 1995) in the Colorado River above the confluence with the

Gunnison River.Thus far, the 15-Mile Reach PBO has covered 115 actual projects.

2 Depletion charges waived by USFWS for consultations on depletions of less than 100 AF/yr.

3 Represents 3 blanket consultations for depletions under 100 AF/yr, up to 6,000 AF/yr total.These three consultations have covered 396 actual 

projects depleting 5,831 AF (4,143 AF/yr in Colorado, 1,050 AF/yr in Utah, and 638 AF/yr in Wyoming).

4 Pre-FY 1990: $10/AF; FY 2002: $15.25/AF.

Historic New

Depletions Depletions Totals

Historic New

Depletions Depletions Totals

Water Project Consultations
17 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Expenditures

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Total Expenditures = $109,530,900 (FYs 1989–2002)

Water Users

$2,100,800

FY 88 Appropriation

$973,000

Utah

$2,617,900

Wyoming

$1,038,600

Nonnative 

fish management

8%

Information, Education 

and Public Involvement

1%

Percentage Expenditures by Category (FY 2002 only)

Colorado

$9,079,200

Power Revenues

$33,891,500*

Fish & Wildlife 

Service

$15,770,000

Reclamation 

(capital)

$44,059,900**

Research and Monitoring

7%

Propagation and Genetics Management

22%

Habitat Restoration

29% Program 

Management

14%

Instream Flow 

Identification and

Protection

19%

**(Includes Reclamation capital 

appropriation of $20,979,700 under 

ESA authorization prior to FY 1999.

FY 1999–2002 appropriation under 

PL 106–392=$22,192,000.)

* (Includes capital 

appropriations beginning

FY 2001.)
Expenditures

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Total Expenditures = $18,723,301 (FYs 1992–2002)

(Not including in-kind contributions)

Capital Expenditures

(fish passage, PIT tags)

69%

Recovery

Efforts

6%

Monitoring

12%

Hydrology Modeling

7%

Percentage Expenditures by Category (FY 2002 only)

State of New Mexico

$834,000*

Bureau of Land Management

$300,000

State of Colorado

$329,000*

Southern Ute Indian Tribe

$111,655

Jicarilla Apache Tribe

$14,000

Research

2%

Program

Management

4%

Bureau of

Indian Affairs

$5,853,850

Bureau of

Reclamation

$6,143,300

Fish & 

Wildlife Service

$1,268,500

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 18

Power Revenues

$3,868,996

* Part of this money will not be available

until July 2002 due to the States having 

different fiscal years (July-June).
19 2001-2002 Program Highlights

Preserving the West’s Heritage

The Upper Colorado River and San

Juan River Basin Recovery Programs are national models of costeffective, public and private partnerships

working to recover endangered species

while allowing water development to 

continue in accordance with State law and 

interstate compacts. The Programs’ efforts

will help ensure that the Colorado 

pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback

chub, and bonytail remain an important

part of the West’s heritage.

A group of early anglers pose with their catch near Fruita, Colorado.

Green River, Utah

trapper Mac McDowell

thought razorback

suckers were “better

than catfish.”

Florence Barnes stands next to a Colorado

pikeminnow caught in Lily Park during the

early 1930’s.

An unhappy Mary Rutledge poses with a stringer of bonytail and

Colorado pikeminnow caught near Moab, Utah, around 1920.

Photos were gathered from

interviews obtained in the

spring and summer of 1991.