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

Program Highlights 2003-2004 is an annual publication of the

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation

Program. These programs are cooperative partnerships

involving public, private, and tribal agencies and interests

dedicated to recovering endangered fishes while water

development proceeds in compliance with Federal and

State 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

2003-2004
2 2003-2004 Program Highlights

Farmington

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.

Upper Colorado River Basin
Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Continue to Garner Bipartisan Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Proactive Measures Exemplify Win-Win Solutions for Water Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Program Overview

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

Programs are Authorized in Federal Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Water Project Consultations Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Endangered Fish Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10&11

Highlights of Recovery Program Accomplishments

Habitat Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Habitat Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Nonnative Species, Sportfishing, and Public Information/Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13&14

Endangered Fish Propagation and Stocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14&15

Research, Monitoring, and Data Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Program Expenditures

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Recovery Goals Provide Measures of Success . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Nonnative Fish Threaten Survival of Endangered Fishes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

Students Help Restore Populations of Endangered Fish . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Preserving the West’s Heritage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Table of Contents 

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

Continue to Garner Bipartisan Support

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program continue to be models of

cost-effective, collaborative efforts to recover endangered fishes

while managing water to serve human needs. The ongoing

progress toward these programs’ success has been recognized by

State and Federal leaders. Recovery Program participants are

pleased to provide the following excerpts by political leaders

familiar with these programs’ efforts:

Department of the Interior

“Meeting the needs of endangered species while respecting the legal rights of

water users has been a priority of the Department of the Interior under this

Administration. In the Upper Basin, we have had success building multistakeholder programs to address the needs of listed species. The Upper

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program [is an example] of how a

broad group of stakeholders - including federal, state, tribal, and private

interests - can work together to improve water management on the Colorado

[River].” (Excerpted)

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton, December 11, 2003

Colorado River Water Users Association Annual Meeting

Las Vegas, Nevada

“The restoration of endangered fish populations in the Upper Basin is an

ongoing success story.” (Excerpted)

Secretary of the Interior Bruce Babbitt, December 14, 2000

Colorado River Water Users Association Annual Meeting

Las Vegas, Nevada

COLORADO

“Since 1988, the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs...have proved to be the

means to resolve endangered species conflicts, promote species recovery, and

allow ongoing development and use of Compact-apportioned water resources

throughout the West. Last year all interests successfully negotiated program

recovery goals [that] provide a clear,succinct roadmap

to Program participants...for recovery,downlisting and

delisting of the endangered fish under the Endangered

Species Act.”

Bill Owens

Governor, State of Colorado

UTAH

“The ongoing drought in Utah, as well as the rest of the western 

United States, underscores the importance of these programs as they allow

water users in Utah to both maintain existing water

use and develop new supplies while protecting the

environment.”

Michael O. Leavitt

Former Governor, State of Utah

NEW MEXICO

“During the 106th Congress, Public Law 106-392 was enacted with strong

bipartisan support. Public Law 106-392 authorizes the Federal government

to provide up to $46 million of cost sharing for the implementation of capital projects for the two recovery programs...Each of the four participating

states has appropriated non-Federal cost sharing funding. These facts demonstrate the strong commitment

and effective partnerships that are present in both of

these ongoing programs.”

Bill Richardson

Governor, State of New Mexico

WYOMING

“These ongoing, highly successful, cooperative programs... reflect the proper

approach to providing endangered species conservation and recovery within

the framework of the existing Federal Endangered Species Act, while concurrently resolving critical conflicts between endangered species recovery and the

development and use of Compact-apportioned water

resources in the Upper Colorado River Basin region of

the Intermountain West.”

Dave Freudenthal

Governor, State of Wyoming

Department of the Interior Secretary Gale Norton frequently cites the Upper

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program as an example of a successful

effort to recover endangered species while water development continues.

4 2003-2004 Program Highlights
Proactive Measures Exemplify Win-Win

Solutions for Water Management

Wise management of water resources in the arid

West is always important, particularly in times of

drought. Sustained drought can have serious

impacts on people and wildlife. Water-year 2002 was the driest

in more than 100 years in parts of the Upper Colorado River

Basin, and drought's grip on the basin remained strong in 2003

for the fourth consecutive year. History tells us the effects of

drought are persistent and may influence the Colorado River

System for several more years.

The endangered fish recovery programs in the Upper Colorado 

River and San Juan River Basins are responding to the 

challenge of water management by working cooperatively with

and among local, State, Federal, and tribal agencies to meet the

needs of people and endangered fish.The programs continue to

implement proactive and innovative measures that exemplify

win-win solutions between competing human and environmental demands for water. A key to success is coordination

among stakeholders to identify the greatest water needs at any

specific time and adjust flows to meet those high-priority

needs. Examples of recently implemented measures are:

◆ The Grand Valley Project canal system in western Colorado

was retrofitted with canal checks and automation, which 

reduced irrigation diversions by 16% or 45,000 acre-feet 

in 2002 and 12% or 33,000 acre-feet in 2003. These 

improvements are tied to water releases from the 

Historical Users Pool in Green Mountain Reservoir, which

the Managing Entities Group oversees. This coordinated 

process plays a major role in managing water resources to

meet human and endangered fish needs.

◆ The fish ladder at the Redlands Diversion Dam on the 

Gunnison River in western Colorado is operated to share 

water shortages while providing fish passage.

◆ Flows for the endangered fishes are recommended by the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that will provide sufficient 

habitat for survival during drought conditions. Contracts 

and leases are in place to provide supplemental water as 

needed during late-summer low flows.

◆ Upper Colorado River Recovery Program partners agreed 

to fund a portion of the proposed enlargement of Elkhead

Reservoir in northwest Colorado. This enlargement will 

provide late-summer water for endangered fishes in the 

Yampa River and partially meet future human water 

demands in the Yampa River Basin.

◆ Recommendations to share water shortages in Navajo 

Reservoir and the San Juan River in 2003 were developed 

and implemented by the New Mexico State Engineer, U.S.

Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

This “shortage-sharing agreement” and its accompanying 

cooperation prevented what could have been catastrophic 

impacts for all water users, including the endangered 

fishes. With the storage level in Navajo Reservoir at an alltime low and forecasted below-average snowpack this 

winter, a similar water-sharing agreement is being developed for 2004. Reservoir releases have been reduced to 

conserve as much water as possible during winter.

Management of water to provide necessary habitat for the

endangered fishes is an integral part of recovery efforts.

Although many gains have been made, both Recovery Programs

recognize that more needs to be done and they continue to seek

innovative solutions to meet water needs.

The fish ladder at the Redlands Diversion Dam on the Gunnison River is operated to

share water shortages while providing fish passage.

An agreement to share water shortages in Navajo Reservoir and the San Juan River

prevented what could have been catastrophic impacts for all water users, including

the endangered fishes, during the drought of 2003.

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

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

Colorado State Parks
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 water development

proceeds in accordance with Federal and State laws. 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. These parties signed a

10-year extension of the agreement in 2001, extending the

Recovery Program through September 30, 2013.

Program Partners

◆ State of Colorado

◆ State of Utah

◆ State of Wyoming

◆ Colorado River Energy Distributors Association

◆ Colorado Water Congress

◆ National Park Service

◆ The Nature Conservancy

◆ U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

◆ U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

◆ Utah Water Users Association

◆ Western Resource Advocates

◆ Western Area Power Administration

◆ Wyoming Water Association

Program Elements

◆ Habitat management includes developing river flow 

recommendations, identifying and acquiring instream 

flows, changing operations of 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 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; propagating

endangered fish for stocking; conducting research to 

improve survival of endangered fish; and restoring 

populations.

◆ Research, monitoring, and data management provides 

critically important 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 demographic criteria specified in the recovery 

goals (see page 18).

Work crews took advantage of late-summer flows on the Colorado River to begin

construction of a fish passage structure at the Government Highline Diversion Dam.

Slated for completion in August 2004, the structure will provide endangered fish

access to critical habitat that has been blocked since the 14-foot-high dam was 

finished in 1917.

Kellen Keisling shows off an endangered bonytail he helped raise at the Utah

Division of Wildlife Resource’s Wahweap Fish Hatchery.

Quent Bradwisch, Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

George Smith, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

6 2003-2004 Program Highlights
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 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

◆ State of Colorado

◆ State of New Mexico

◆ Jicarilla Apache Nation

◆ Navajo Nation

◆ Southern Ute Indian Tribe

◆ Ute Mountain Ute Tribe

◆ 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

includes 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, investigating changes in water chemistry,

and pursuing actions to diminish or eliminate water 

quality problems that limit recovery.

◆ 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 necessary to 

evaluate status and trends of endangered fish species as 

well as other native and nonnative species to assure 

the Recovery Program’s overall success in achieving 

recovery goals (see page 18).

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Jason Davis stocks young Colorado

pikeminnow in the San Juan River. The fish were raised at Dexter National Fish

Hatchery and Technology Center in New Mexico.

Albert Lapahie, a biologist with the Navajo Nation, operates the new fish passage at

the Public Service Company of New Mexico Weir. Four razorback suckers have used

the passage during its first six months of operation.

U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs-NIIP Ernie Teller, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

7 Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program
Programs are Authorized in Federal Law

Enactment of Public Laws 106-392 and 107-375 Provide Construction Authorities 

and Ongoing O&M Funding for the San Juan River and Upper Colorado River Recovery Programs.

Capital Funding 

The four participating States and CRSP power revenues each are 

contributing $17 million for these projects.

State Funding

The States’ ongoing financial participation in these efforts has been

funded through several unique and creative means. In Colorado,

HB 98-1006 created the Native Species Conservation Trust Fund,

through which an annual “Species Conservation Eligibility List,”

submitted by the Department of Natural Resources, is approved by a

joint resolution of the General Assembly.The New Mexico Legislature

has chosen to appropriate funds into the State’s “operating reserve,”

thus making them available at any time and not tied to a specific 

calendar year. Application of the funds is subject to approval by the

New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission.

The Wyoming State Legislature appropriated its funding share during

its 1998 and 1999 sessions. The Utah State Legislature has pursued a

twofold approach by creating in 1997 a restricted Species Protection

Account within the General Fund, which receives revenue generated

by the Brine Shrimp Royalty Acts’ brine shrimp tax and by the dedication in 2000 of 1/16th of one cent of the Utah sales tax to water development projects such as the Upper Colorado River Program.

Power Revenues

The Secretary of Energy, acting through the 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. P.L. 106-392 requires that the power revenue and State

funding match on a rolling two-year basis. Power revenue funding

may be provided in part from loan(s) provided to WAPA from the

Colorado Water Conservation Board’s Construction Fund, as permitted

by the Programs’ Federal authorizations.

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

Continuing success of both Recovery Programs depends on

obtaining sufficient funding to implement recovery actions

such as those identified in the Upper Colorado River

Endangered Fish Recovery Action Plan. Public Law (P.L.) 106-392,

signed on October 30, 2000, authorizes 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. Non-Federal cost-sharing funds are provided by the Upper

Basin States (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming); and by

water users and Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) power users.

P.L. 107-375, signed on December 19, 2002, extends the authorization

period for the Secretary of Interior to complete the capital construction

projects (and to expend non-Federal funds) from 2005 to 2008 for the

Upper Colorado River Program and from 2007 to 2008 for the San

Juan River Program. Pursuant to this Federal authorization, the

Programs’ capital construction costs are not to exceed $100 million:

$82 million for the Upper Colorado River Program and $18 million

for the San Juan River Program. P.L. 106-392 recognizes the contribution of $20 million that has been incurred as a portion of replacement

power costs due to modified operations at the CRSP power facilities

and the capital cost of water storage in Wolford Mountain Reservoir

(Colorado) to benefit the endangered fishes.

Base Program (O&M) Funding

P.L. 106-392 also provides up to $6 million per year (adjusted annually for inflation) of CRSP power 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, CRSP power revenues may be used only to operate and maintain the capital projects and for monitoring, unless

Congress authorizes additional funding. In the event there are insufficient funds in the Upper Colorado Basin Fund to meet Western Area

Power Administration (WAPA) and USBR obligations under the CRSP

Act of 1956 for a three-year period,WAPA and the USBR shall request

appropriations to meet base funding obligations.

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

Congress: $ 46 million

Total $ 46 million

8 2003-2004 Program Highlights
Table 1

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Summary of Section 7 Consultations

(1/1988 through 12/31/2003)

Table 2

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Summary of Section 7 Consultations

State Acre-feet/yr

New Mexico 610,562

Colorado 216,557

Utah 9,140

Arizona 10,010

Totals 846,269

Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act within the Upper Colorado River & 

San Juan River Recovery Programs

Number of

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

Colorado 387 1,037,145.14 139,205.82 1,176,350.96

Utah 38 422,917.82 66,110.95 489,028.77

Wyoming 93 42,089.59 17,184.52 59,274.11

Regional* 238

Totals 756 1,502,152.55 222,501.29 1,724,653.84

Historic New

Depletions Depletions Totals

Depletions

Water Project Consultations

Source: Biological Assessment for Navajo Reservoir Operations, Colorado River

Storage Project, Colorado-New Mexico-Utah, July 2003, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

(250/5000 Alternative)

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

* Depletions included in historic projects.
10 2003-2004 Program Highlights

Endangered Fish Status 

Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Recovery Programs

◆ The State of Colorado downlisted this species from “Stateendangered” to “State-threatened” under the State’s statute 

in 1998.

◆ Current estimates of the upper basin populations appear 

to meet or exceed the downlisting demographic criteria 

for adult abundance specified in the recovery goals 

(see page 18).The Service is reviewing all population 

estimates to determine their acceptability.

Bonytail

◆ This is the rarest of the four endangered Colorado River fish 

species. Before stocking began, the species had essentially 

disappeared in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

◆ Stocking efforts continue to reestablish two self-sustaining 

populations in the upper basin (see recovery goals, page 18).

◆ More than 239,700 bonytails have been raised and stocked in 

the Colorado and Green rivers. The Utah Department 

of Wildlife Resources stocked 12,800 bonytails greater 

than 6 inches and the Colorado Division of Wildlife 

stocked about 800 bonytails greater than 8 inches into the

middle Green River in fall 2003.

◆ Stocking has been expanded to place fish into floodplain 

wetlands where growth and survival may be enhanced.

◆ Captures of fish raised in the hatchery and stocked in the 

river system indicate survival in the wild.

Humpback Chub

◆ Five self-sustaining populations occur in canyon-bound river 

reaches of the Upper Colorado River Basin. About 3,000 adults

occur in the Black Rocks and Westwater Canyon populations 

near the Colorado-Utah border.The Yampa Canyon and 

Cataract Canyon populations are small, each consisting of 

a few hundred adults.The population in Desolation/Gray 

Canyons is estimated at about 1,700 adults.
Illustrations © Joseph R. Tomelleri

Razorback Sucker

◆ Genetic stocks of wild fish have been secured in hatcheries,

and their offspring are being stocked to reestablish or enhance 

wild populations. Recovery goals require two self-sustaining 

populations in the upper basin (see page 18).

◆ Nearly 63,000 subadults have been raised and stocked in the 

Upper Colorado River Basin to date. In 2003, the Recovery 

Program stocked over 345,000 larvae into the Green River and

over 16,300 subadults into the Upper Colorado River Basin.

◆ Stocked fish in the Green River have been captured at spawning

sites in reproductive condition, indicating that they are 

becoming part of the wild population.

◆ Larval razorback suckers were discovered for the first time 

in the Gunnison River in 2002, confirming that stocked 

fish are spawning.

◆ About 7,900 subadults and adults have been stocked in the 

San Juan River since 1994.

◆ Larval razorback suckers have been found in the San Juan 

River every year since 1998 and juveniles were found in 

2002 and 2003, confirming that stocked fish are spawning 

and young are surviving.

◆ Current adult numbers in the Colorado and Green rivers 

appear to meet or exceed the downlisting demographic 

criteria in the recovery goals (see page 18).The Service 

is reviewing all population estimates to determine their 

acceptability.

◆ Over 2,000 juvenile Colorado pikeminnow were stocked 

in the Colorado and Gunnison rivers of western Colorado 

in fall 2003.

◆ Stocking efforts continue in the San Juan River to achieve 

requirements of the recovery goals. About 177,000 

juveniles were stocked in October 2003, and 

approximately 300,000 are scheduled to be stocked 

in fall 2004.

Colorado Pikeminnow

◆ Self-sustaining populations occur in the Green and 

Colorado rivers of the Upper Colorado River Basin.

◆ Since 1991, abundance estimates for adult Colorado 

pikeminnow in the Colorado River have continued to increase;

the current population estimate is about 780 adults. Recent 

estimates in the Green River system place the number 

of adults at about 5,000.

◆ The State of Colorado downlisted this species from “Stateendangered” to “State-threatened” in 1998.

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

Highlights of

Recovery Program Accomplishments

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ Since 1988, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has 

consulted on 756 water projects depleting approximately 

1,725,000 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 acre-feet of water per year.

◆ A final environmental assessment and programmatic 

biological opinion (EA/PBO) will be completed in 2004 

for the Management Plan for Endangered Fishes in the 

Yampa River Basin. Upon completion of the EA/PBO, the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will enter into a cooperative

agreement with the Colorado River Water Conservation 

District and the States of Colorado and Wyoming to 

implement the plan.The plan describes specific recovery 

actions intended to compensate for the adverse impacts of

current and future depletions.

◆ The Grand Valley Project canal system in western 

Colorado was retrofitted with canal checks and 

automation, which reduced irrigation diversions by 16% 

or 45,000 acre-feet in 2002 and 12% or 33,000 acre-feet

in 2003. These improvements play a major role in 

managing water resources to meet human and 

endangered fish needs (see page 5).

◆ Recovery Program partners have agreed to fund a proposed 5,000 acre-foot enlargement of Elkhead 

Reservoir in northwest Colorado.The expansion will 

make water available to augment late-summer flows for 

endangered fish and to sustain future growth in the 

Yampa Valley.

◆ Final flow recommendations were completed to benefit 

endangered fishes in the Gunnison, upper Colorado, and 

Duchesne rivers.

◆ A strategic plan was completed to prioritize and direct 

future habitat research and monitoring activities.

Recommendations will be used to develop studies starting

in 2004.

◆ An agreement was signed in 2003 to ensure delivery of 

10,825 acre-feet per year of water from Ruedi Reservoir 

to augment river flows in the 15-Mile Reach of the 

Colorado River through 2012.

◆ A research study continued in 2003 to develop a 

temperature model for the Gunnison River to explore 

ways to improve fish habitat.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has altered the timing and

magnitude of releases from Navajo Dam to attempt to 

meet the flow recommendations for the San Juan River 

that were approved in 1999. A final environmental 

impact statement and record of decision for full 

implementation of the flow recommendations are 

scheduled for release in 2004.

◆ The Recovery Program is evaluating the need for habitat 

development for all life stages of the endangered fishes.

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Hydrologist George Smith assisted in development of the Grand Valley check structures which have allowed water users to

make more efficient use of limited water resources. “Saved” water is available

to increase river flows for the endangered fish.

Gerry Roehm, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

12 2003-2004 Program Highlights
Habitat Development

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ Sixty Colorado pikeminnow, six razorback suckers, one 

bonytail, and more than 53,000 other native fish have 

used the ladder at the Redlands Diversion Dam on the 

Gunnison River since 1996.This confirms that the ladder 

is successfully helping endangered fish reach 50 miles of 

historic habitat blocked when the dam was built in 1905.

◆ The Recovery Program obtained an easement on 451 

acres of floodplain habitat on Thunder Ranch near Jensen,

Utah. Restoration of a 330-acre wetland on this property 

will provide important nursery habitat in a key location 

for young razorback suckers and is expected to greatly 

contribute toward recovery of the species.

◆ Habitat restoration was completed at the Unaweep 

Charolais Ranch near Whitewater, Colorado.The site was 

designed as a razorback sucker nursery habitat for the 

lower Gunnison River.

◆ Information gained from studies on survival of larval 

razorback suckers and bonytails in the presence of nonnative

fishes is being used to determine the amount and type of 

floodplain habitat needed for recovery.

◆ Adult bonytails stocked into floodplain habitats in 2003 

successfully reproduced.These stocking efforts directly 

increase endangered fish abundance and also help 

determine the habitat requirements of the species.

◆ Installation of fish passages for the Grand Valley Project and 

Price-Stubb diversion dams on the Colorado River in 

western Colorado will provide endangered fish access to 50 

miles of critical habitat.

◆ Construction of screens to prevent endangered fish from 

being swept into the Redlands and Grand Valley Project 

canals will begin in November 2004 and be completed 

in 2005.

◆ Design and installation of a fish screen for the Tusher Wash 

diversion canal on the Green River in eastern Utah can

proceed because of the recent decision by the Utah 

Supreme Court ending a water-rights dispute.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ Flow regimes to restore and maintain native fish habitat are 

being implemented.

◆ Construction of a 400-foot fish passage structure at the 

Public Service Company of New Mexico Weir was 

completed in 2003. Between June and November 2003,

8 Colorado pikeminnow and 4 razorback suckers used the 

passage. Fiscal Year 2004 funds will be used to design fish 

passage at the Four Corners Power Plant Weir if it is determined that this is necessary.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ The Recovery Program launched new efforts in 2003 to 

manage nonnative northern pike, channel catfish, and 

smallmouth bass to reduce their threat to the endangered 

fishes.This work will continue in 2004 (see page 19).

◆ The Recovery Program adopted a policy that addresses 

the process of identifying and implementing nonnative 

fish management actions needed to recover the 

endangered fish.The policy ensures that a more 

consistent message is included in strategic communication efforts intended to gain agency and public 

understanding and support for these necessary actions.

Nonnative Species, Sportfishing, and Public Information/Involvement

Pat Nelson, Recovery Program

Restoring habitat to serve as a nursery area for razorback suckers and Colorado

pikeminnow is an important step toward their recovery.

Dave Buchanan, The Daily Sentinel

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists weigh and measure a channel catfish

removed from the Colorado River as part of expanded efforts to manage nonnative

fishes that threaten the survival of endangered fishes.

13 Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program
14 2003-2004 Program Highlights

◆ Educational exhibits with aquariums featuring 

endangered fishes at Dinosaur National Monument in 

Utah and The Nature Conservancy’s historic Carpenter 

Ranch and the Montrose Pavilion in Colorado give the 

public firsthand opportunities to observe and learn about 

these endangered species.The Recovery Program also 

provides information at major water user conferences in 

Colorado, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming.

◆ The Recovery Program provides hatchery-raised fish and 

partial funding for a program that enables students to 

raise endangered fish in their classrooms (see page 20).

◆ The Recovery Program holds public meetings and 

produces a wide range of educational materials, including

newsletters, fact sheets, interpretive exhibits, and a web

site. Considerable favorable press concerning the 

Recovery Program was observed in 2003 in local and 

regional newspapers in Colorado and Utah.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ Efforts to control nonnative fishes have been underway 

since 1998 and are showing signs of success. Some 

species, such as channel catfish and striped bass,

are being directly controlled, whereas control of other 

species, such as red shiner, is being attempted through 

restoration of natural flow regimes and river habitat.

◆ The Program continues to work with both the Navajo 

Nation and the State of New Mexico to transplant 

channel catfish from the San Juan River to area lakes to 

enhance recreational fishing opportunities. In addition,

collaboration with the Southwest Tribal Fisheries 

Commission in distributing channel catfish to other 

Tribes and Pueblos within the State of New Mexico will 

begin in 2004.

◆ A dedication of the fish passage at the Public Service 

Company of New Mexico Weir in 2003 started with a 

traditional Navajo blessing. More than 300 people have 

visited the site since the dedication, including students 

from local schools, the Shiprock Boys and Girls Club, and 

the local Headstart Program.

◆ The San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program 

invites full public participation through public meetings 

and maintains an updated website.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ The Recovery Program adopted an integrated stocking 

plan for Colorado and Utah to expedite reestablishment 

of razorback sucker and bonytail populations.

◆ The Recovery Program funds operations of four hatchery 

facilities in Colorado and Utah:

• Personnel at the Grand Valley Endangered Fish Facility 

(Grand Junction, Colorado) stocked 5,358 razorback 

suckers into the Colorado River and 2,364 into the 

Green River in fall 2003. Fish stocked were 12 inches 

long or larger. In addition, facility personnel stocked 

1,051 Colorado pikeminnow in the Gunnison River 

near Delta, Colorado, and 1,000 in the Colorado River 

upstream of DeBeque Canyon during fall 2003.

Endangered Fish Propagation and Stocking

Nonnative species, sportfishing (continued from previous page)

Recovery Program Web Sites

Upper Colorado River:

ColoradoRiverRecovery.fws.gov

San Juan River: southwest.fws.gov/sjrip

Ernie Teller, U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs

Local students learn to identify native and nonnative fishes by helping biologists

sort the day's catch at the newly-constructed fish passage at the Public Service

Company of New Mexico Weir on the San Juan River.

Debbie Felker, Recovery Program

J.W. Mumma Native Aquatic Species Restoration Facility Manager Dave Schnoor (left)

discusses endangered fish production with Recovery Program Director Bob Muth.

• The State of Colorado’s J.W.

Mumma Native Aquatic 

Species Restoration Facility 

(Alamosa, Colorado) is 

raising over 22,000 bonytails and 10,000 Colorado 

pikeminnow for future 

stocking. Biologists stocked 

over 800, 8-inch bonytails 

in the Colorado River in 

fall 2003.
• The State of Utah’s Wahweap Fish Hatchery (Big Water,

Utah) raised over 12,800 bonytails (greater than 6 

inches) in 2003 that were stocked in the Colorado and

Green rivers.The hatchery will produce more than 

15,000 bonytails to stock in fall 2004.

• The Ouray National Fish Hatchery (Ouray, Utah) 

continues to raise over 27,000 razorback suckers to 

stock in the Green River. More than 8,600 razorback 

suckers (10-12 inches long) were stocked in 2003.

◆ The four hatchery 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.

◆ Captures of stocked razorback suckers and bonytails and 

documentation of razorback sucker reproduction through

the collection of larval fish in the Gunnison River 

demonstrate that stocking efforts are working.

Research, Monitoring, and Data Management

Endangered Fish Propagation and Stocking (continued from previous page)

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ The San Juan River Biology Committee finalized genetics 

and augmentation plans for both the Colorado 

pikeminnow and the razorback sucker in 2003.These 

plans outline key specifics for the population 

augmentation efforts, including the size and number of 

fish that will be stocked to help achieve the selfsustaining population numbers needed to meet the 

recovery goals (see page 18).

◆ To date, about 900 subadult and adult razorback suckers 

have been stocked in the San Juan River. Larval razorback 

suckers, which have been found in the river for the last six 

years, indicate that previously stocked fish are surviving 

and spawning at two separate locations in the river.

◆ About 177,000 juvenile Colorado pikeminnow were 

stocked in October 2003, and approximately 300,000 are

scheduled to be stocked in fall 2004.

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

◆ Collections of young razorback suckers 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.

◆ Cooperative efforts by State, Federal, and private agencies 

resulted in obtaining current and reliable abundance 

estimates for endangered fish populations. In 2003, markrecapture population estimates were conducted for 

populations of Colorado pikeminnow in the Green and 

Colorado rivers, and for humpback chub in the Yampa,

Green, and Colorado rivers. Results are used to measure 

progress toward achieving recovery criteria for 

self-sustaining populations (see page 18).

◆ A computer-interactive key to sucker larvae and early 

juveniles of the Upper Colorado River Basin was 

developed and accepted by the Recovery Program to 

facilitate more accurate identification of specimens in 

the field.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

◆ Studies to evaluate the success of Colorado pikeminnow 

stocking efforts were initiated in 2003 with the intent of 

determining protocols that will result in higher survival 

and retention of stocked fish.

◆ The Recovery Program is integrating monitoring data 

collected during 1999 through 2001 into a final report 

slated for completion in 2004.The monitoring program 

documents the response of the physical and biological 

components to the observed flow regime.The results will 

be used to evaluate and update flow recommendations as 

well as the standardized monitoring and long-range plans.

◆ During 2004, a peer review panel will help the Biology 

Committee integrate 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.

◆ The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, in coordination with the 

Hydrology Committee, is developing the Third Generation

Hydrology Model scheduled for completion in 2004.The 

model will allow better evaluation of flows in the San 

Juan River to benefit the endangered fishes.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists gather data on endangered fish populations. This information will be used to help measure progress toward achieving the

recovery goals.

Utah Division of Wildlife Resources

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

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Total Agency Contributions = $138,680,700 (FY 1989-2004)

Water Users

$2,144,200

FY 88 Appropriation

$973,000

Utah

$3,638,700

Wyoming

$1,085,800

Nonnative 

Fish Management

6%

Information, Education 

and Public Involvement

1%

Colorado

$9,900,400

Power Revenues

$50,914,600*

U.S. Fish & 

Wildlife Service

$17,960,300

U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation 

(capital)

$50,593,700**

Research and Monitoring

4%

Propagation and Genetics Management

6%

Habitat Restoration

50%

Program 

Management

9%

Instream Flow 

Identification and

Protection

24%

**(Includes Reclamation capital 

appropriation of $20,979,700 under 

ESA authorization prior to FY 1999.

FY 1999-2004 appropriation under 

PL 106-392=$29,614,000)

* (Includes capital 

appropriations beginning

FY 2001)

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation: capital cost of 

Ruedi Reservoir fish water releases 

(beginning in FY 03)

$1,470,000

Agency Contributions

(FY 1989-2004)

Projected Expenditures

by Category (FY 2004 only)

16 2003-2004 Program Highlights
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 17

Expenditures

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Total Agency Contributions = $24,361,655 (FY 1992-2004)

(Not including in-kind contributions)

Capital Expenditures

(fish passage and 

rearing ponds)

26%

Recovery

Efforts

23%

Monitoring

25%

Hydrology Modeling

6%

State of New Mexico

$919,000

U.S. Bureau of Land Management

$350,000

State of Colorado

$362,000

Southern Ute Indian Tribe

$111,655

Jicarilla Apache Tribe

$14,000

Research

12%

Program

Management

8%

U.S. Bureau of

Indian Affairs

$6,461,00

U.S. Bureau of

Reclamation

$7,336,000

U.S. Fish & 

Wildlife Service

$1,567,000

Power Revenues

$7,211,000

Projected Expenditures

by Category (FY 2004 only)

Agency Contributions (FY 1992-2004)
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service approved final, basinwide recovery goals for the endangered humpback

chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback

sucker on August 1, 2002. The recovery goals were developed

with collaborative input from public, private, and tribal stakeholders, and scientists from the Colorado River Basin.The goals

are based on the best available science and provide reasonable

assurances that recovery can be achieved and the species protected into the future.

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

are using this information to further focus and expand their

aggressive efforts to bring the four fish species back from the

brink of extinction.The Recovery Programs are stocking hatchery-produced fish, working to manage nonnative fishes, and

improving habitat to maintain or restore populations.

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

river compacts, and Federal trust responsibilities.

Recovery Goals Provide Measures of Success

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 Subbasin, 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

Subbasin, each > 5,800 adults

• Maintain genetic refuge of adults in Lake Mohave

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

adults

The recovery goals identify site-specific management actions to

minimize or remove threats and specify the numbers of fish

that comprise self-sustaining populations (see table below).

Downlisting of the fishes from “endangered” to “threatened”

and removing the species from Endangered Species Act protection (delisting) may be considered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service once the necessary management actions are achieved

and the fish populations reach the required demographic and

genetic self-sustaining standards.

The recovery goals are comprehensive, biologically and legally

sound, and provide specific criteria for recovery. Researchbased adaptive management, however, may lead to future revisions of the recovery criteria.The recovery goals and the status

of the species will be formally reviewed at least every five years.

Monitoring of fish populations will help guide this process,

and population estimates will serve as a starting point against

which progress toward recovery is measured.

More information is available at:

mountain-prairie.fws.gov/ea/infopackets 

or by calling 303-969-7322, ext. 225.

18 2003-2004 Program Highlights
Nonnative Fish Threaten Survival 

of Endangered Fishes

More than 40 nonnative fish species can be found in

the Upper Colorado River Basin, compared with

14 native fish species. Negative interactions with

certain warmwater nonnative fish species have contributed to

declines in endangered and other native fish populations. Some

nonnative fish prey upon endangered and other native fishes –

eating their eggs and young, and in some cases, larger fish.

Nonnative fish also compete with native fish for food and space.

In 2003, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

Program expanded efforts to identify management actions to

minimize or remove the threat of nonnative fishes to survival of

the endangered fishes as described in the August 2002 recovery

goals (see page 18). Before work began, the Recovery Program

prepared and implemented a comprehensive communications

plan to make sure the public was well informed of planned

work. Efforts included hosting public meetings in affected communities in Colorado and Utah, informing Congressional staff

and other elected officials and proactively seeking news media

coverage, including inviting reporters to accompany biologists

as they conducted their work.

From late April through October, Recovery Program biologists

worked in sections of 438 miles of river in Colorado and Utah

to experimentally manage three species of nonnative fishes:

channel catfish, northern pike, and smallmouth bass. They targeted these species because scientific evidence suggests they

pose a significant threat to the endangered fishes.Where appropriate and practical, biologists transferred fish from the river to

local ponds and reservoirs that were publicly accessible to

anglers.

Research findings from 2003 shaped nonnative fish 

management actions that will occur in 2004.These include:

◆ Increasing efforts to manage northern pike in the 

Yampa River. Last year’s data suggest that movement of 

northern pike rendered the previously-used approach 

ineffective. Past efforts in the Gunnison, Colorado, and 

Green rivers, however, demonstrated success in reducing 

northern pike.This work will continue in 2004.

◆ Reducing rapidly rising numbers of smallmouth bass in 

certain river reaches in Colorado and Utah.This proactive 

approach is needed to prevent populations from 

increasing to levels that may become unmanageable.

◆ Continuing channel catfish removal in Yampa Canyon 

where management actions have demonstrated success.

◆ Postponing channel catfish removal/relocation in the 

Colorado and Green rivers until specific research can 

occur to identify more effective management methods.

Other Management Actions

The Recovery Program continues to consider other nonnative

fish management options which include screening reservoir outlets, berming ponds to prevent nonnative fishes from escaping

into the rivers, developing agreements to regulate stocking of

nonnative fishes, and changing state bag and possession limits.

Helping Other Native Fish Species

Biologists believe that nonnative fish management actions taken

to benefit the endangered fishes also will benefit other native

fish species such as the roundtail chub, bluehead and flannelmouth sucker, and speckled dace. “Our data suggest the abundant

gamefish like northern pike, smallmouth bass and channel catfish are eating

most of the young fish produced each year,” says Colorado Division of

Wildlife Native Fish Conservation Program Manager Tom Nesler.

“This will result in declining adult populations of native fish species over

time. Northern pike have begun to prey upon Colorado pikeminnow in the

Yampa River due to the scarcity of fish prey.By working proactively to maintain balance in the river system, it is hoped that all native species will continue to thrive and never require State or Federal protection as threatened or

endangered.”

Scientific evidence suggests that the northern pike is one of three nonnative fish

species that pose a significant threat to the endangered fishes. As part of nonnative

fish management actions, biologists are removing and relocating certain nonnative

fish species from the river to local ponds and reservoirs that are publicly accessible

to anglers.

Mark Fuller, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 19
Colorado students are helping to restore populations of

endangered fish through a unique education program

sponsored by the Colorado Division of Wildlife

(CDOW). Since 2000, elementary and high school classes in

western Colorado have raised endangered razorback suckers or

Colorado pikeminnow in classroom aquariums during the

school year and released them into the river each spring.

“This is a fabulous program,” says fifth-grade teacher Cary Atwood

from Scenic Elementary in Grand Junction, Colorado. “Having

razorback suckers in our classroom greatly increased my students’ interest in

learning about endangered species, the river system, and water quality.They

also assumed the responsibility for feeding the fish, testing their water and

monitoring their growth. My students definitely developed a greater understanding of how people have affected the delicate balance of native and nonnative species in the river system.”

At the start of the school year, CDOW Education Specialist Stan

Johnson brings the aquarium and fish to each classroom and

provides instruction to the students. At over 6-feet-tall, he towers above the students as he explains that when they are taking

care of the endangered fish, “they are no longer students...they are

young scientists.”

With that said, these young scientists understand that what they

are doing is serious business. They are contributing to the

restoration of populations of once-plentiful native Colorado

Students Help Restore Populations 

of Endangered Fish

Preserving the West’s Heritage

The Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin

Recovery Programs are national models of cost-effective, public, private, and tribal partnerships working to

recover endangered species while water development continues

in accordance with Federal and 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.

River fish that are some of the

oldest species in the river 

system, dating back about

seven million years.

“There are very few of these fish

left,” Stan tells the students.

“You need to take care of these fish so

they’ll grow large enough to survive

in the river when we release them in

the spring.”

Cary believes the hands-on

experience of raising endangered fish instills her students

with a greater sense of how their decisions can affect the world

they live in. “It’s more than just learning to test water quality and to take

care of a living being,” she says. “My students learn that the decisions they

make about their environment can have consequences. I think they have

gained knowledge from their year with the razorbacks that will remain with

them for the rest of their lives.”

Fish and Wildlife Service Biologist Patty Schrader Gelatt and her daughter, Amy, 

listen as Colorado Division of Wildlife Education Coordinator Stan Johnson explains

how to record measurements of the razorback sucker. Amy and her classmates will

release them to the river.

Tom Czapla, Recovery Program

Tanner Bollacker and his fifth-grade

classmates released 11 young razorback

suckers into the Colorado River.

Tom Czapla, Recovery Program

The Stewart brothers enjoyed fishing for Colorado pikeminnow (then called

Colorado squawfish or whitefish) during the Depression in the 1930s.

Pictured with their catch from the Green River near Vernal, Utah, are Dale, 12

(left); Max 4 (in the wagon); and Glen, 16.

Courtesy of Max and Dale Stewart

20 2003-2004 Program Highlights