Upper Colorado River 

Endangered Fish Recovery Program 

and 

San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program

2000-2001

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
Table of Contents

Requested FY 2002 Congressional Action Items . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Endangered Fish Status and Recovery Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Program Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

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

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

Highlights of Recovery Program Accomplishments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Habitat Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Habitat Development . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Native Fish Propagation and Stocking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Nonnative Species,Sportfishing, and Public Information and Involvement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Research, Monitoring, and Data Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Program Expenditures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Long-term Funding Legislation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Water Project Consultations Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Letters of Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

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

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 

Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program

Program Highlights 

2000–2001
Fish and Wildlife Service Budget

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

1. Support Fish and Wildlife Service funds for the Upper

Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

($706,000 requested in “recovery” funds) 

Projects to be funded are:

n Fish and Wildlife Service program management:

Funding covers salaries and expenses of Program

Director and staff.

n 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.

n Data management: The Service maintains all fish data

collected in 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 2000-2001 Program Highlights

2. Support Fish and Wildlife Service funds for 

operation of the Ouray National Fish Hatchery

($400,000 requested for fish hatchery operation and

annual maintenance)

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recove ry

Program requests Congressional support to operate the

Service’s National Fish Hatchery in Ouray, Utah. Funds will

enable the hatchery to continue to raise and hold endangered fish for stocking, research,and refugia (adult fish for

spawning and maintaining gene pool.)

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

3. Support Fish and Wildlife Service funding for the San

Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

($126,000 requested in “recovery” funds) 

Projects to be funded are:

n Fish and Wildlife Service program management:

Funds support partial salary for the Pro g r a m

C o o r d i n ator and A s s i s t a n t , printing costs for reports,

and brochures and some research and monitoring.

Requested F Y 2002 

Congressional Action Items

Fish and Wildlife Service Funding

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program 

n $706,000 requested in Region 6’s “recovery” funds

n $400,000 requested for operation and maintenance of Ouray National Fish Hatchery

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

n $126,000 requested in Region 2’s “recovery” funds

Bureau of Reclamation Funding

n $6.950 million in “Endangered Species Recovery Programs and Activities” for the

Upper Colorado Region. ($5.135 million for Upper Colorado River; $1.815 million

for San Juan River Basin) 

Details of these requests fo l l ow.

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 FY 2002.
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 3

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 Endangered Fish Recovery Program

and San Juan River Basin Recovery Program participants

request Congressional support for $6.950 million for FY

2002 in “ E n d a n g e red Species Recove ry Programs and

Activities for the Upper Colorado Region.” This amount

would provide the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish

Recovery Program with $5.135 million, the San Juan River

Basin Recovery Implementation Program with $1.815 million, and Activities to Avoid Jeopardy with $535,000.The

$5.135 million, supported by Upper Basin Program participants, would be used for water acquisition and capital construction projects including:

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish 

Recovery Program Activities

n Fish passage: Funds will be used to restore fish 

passage on the Colorado River at the Grand Valley

Project and the Price-Stubb Diversion dams.These

activities will benefit razorback sucker and Colorado

pikeminnow by providing access to historic habitat,

and will support expanded populations to achieve

recovery goals.

n 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 endangered fish consistent with State water law.

n Nonnati ve fish control: Funds are needed to modify

at least 20 ponds/year to prevent nonnative fish from

e s c aping into the ri ver where they may harm endangere d

fish. Funds also are needed to design and install a fi s h

b a rrier on Elkhead Reservoir to prevent nonnat i ve fish

from escaping into the Yampa River.

n 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 razorback sucker and will benefit a variety of 

wetland-dependent wildlife.

n Endangered fish gro wout ponds: Existing hatcheries and native fish production facilities fall short

of meeting stocking needs. Funds are needed to 

excavate or locate at least 100 acres of growout ponds

to raise razorback suc ker and other endangered fish

for further stocking into the Green, Colorado,

and Gunnison rivers.

n Diversion canal screening: Funds are needed to cons t ruct a screen at the Grand Va l l ey Irri g at i o n Company

Diversion Canal to prevent endangered fish from being

drawn out of the river and into the canals.The habitat

above the diversion is used by adult endangered fish.

Funds are also needed to construct a screen at the

Tusher Wash Diversion Canal on the Green River in

Utah to prevent fish from being trapped in irrigation

canals and the power plant intakes.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation

Program Activities

n In FY 2001 fish passage will be provided at the

H o g b a ck D i version and re a ring ponds for razorback

s u cker will be constru c t e d . C apital expenditures for 

FY 2002 will be the construction of fish passage at 

the Public Service Company of New Mexico weir and

re m oval of the Cudei Diversion Dam and re p l a c e m e n t

with a siphon. In addition, the feasibility of fish passag e

at the A rizona Public Service weir will be inve s t i g at e d

and additional re a ring ponds for razorback sucker 

will be constru c t e d.
Colorado Pikeminnow

Status

 Since 1991, the abundance estimates for adult Colorado

pikeminnow in the Colorado River have tripled.The current population estimate is 650 adults. Recent estimates 

in the Green River System place the number of adults 

at about 3,500.

 The State of Colorado downlisted the Colorado pikeminnow

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

 In the San Juan River, the Colorado pikeminnow population

appears to be less than 100.

4 2000-2001 Program Highlights

Recovery Highlights

 Construction of the Redlands Fish Ladder on the Gunnison

River opened 57 miles of historic habitat.The completion of

two passageways on the upper Colorado River will provide

another 55 miles of habitat not available since these diversion dams have been in place. Combined, these passageways

will triple the available habitat for adult Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker in the upper Colorado River.

 Greater numbers of young Colorado pikeminnow survived

than expected when stocked into the San Juan River. It appears

some will become part of the reproducing adult population.

Endangered Fish 

Status and Recovery Highlights

Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Recovery Programs

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 contains fewer than 500 wild adults.

These fish represent a spawning population.

 No wild razorback sucker have been found recently in 

the San Juan River.

Recovery Highlights

 More than 45,000 razorback sucker have been raised 

and stocked in the Upper Colorado River Basin to date.

Another 20,000 will be stocked in 2001.

 Between 1994 and 2000, 6,107 razorback sucker 

were stocked in the San Juan River.Young razorback 

sucker found in the river indicate that formerly stocked

razorback sucker are surviving and spawning.
Hatchery Programs

During the past several years,the Upper Colorado River Endangered

Fish Recovery Program has established state-of-the-art hatcheries

that raise endangered fish and protect genetic diversity. These

facilities are helping the Program meet approved stocking plans.

In the future, the Program plans to stock 2,040,000 razorback

sucker, 755,800 bonytail, and 21,600 Colorado pikeminnow.

Habitat improvements initiated by the Recovery Program

ensure the stocking program’s success.These include building

fish passageways, improving stream flows, controlling nonnative fish, and restoring flooded wetland habitat.

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

Humpback Chub

Status

 Populations appear healthy and stable in most areas of the

Upper Colorado River Basin.The population at Black Rocks

and Westwater Canyon, near the Colorado-Utah border,

is estimated at 6,500.

 The State of Colorado downlisted the humpback chub 

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

Recovery Highlights

 The Recovery Program is currently developing population

estimates for the entire Upper Colorado River Basin.

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 93,000 bonytail have been raised and stocked

in the Colorado River since 1996. Of those, 10,000 were

reintroduced into State of Colorado waters for the first time

in July 2000. Another 33,000 bonytail have been released

in the Green River. Additional stocking is planned for 2001.

Recovery Goals

Draft recovery goals for the four endangered fish species will

be available for public comment in Spring 2001. The recovery goals supplement and amend existing recovery plans.

The goals contain measurable, objective criteria that, when

met, would result in proposals to remove the fish from the

Federal list of threatened or endangered species.

The criteria specify standards for self-sustaining, viable

populations and management actions needed to minimize or remove threats.An estimate of time required to

achieve recovery is provided.

Illustrations © Joseph R. Tomelleri
2000-2001 Program Highlights

The Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

Program is an interagency partnership created to recover

the endangered Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker,

humpback chub, and bonytail 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 identifying and acquiring

instream flows, changing operations of Federal dams, and

operating other reservoirs in a coordinated manner to benefit endangered fish.

 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.

 Native fish propagation and genetic management 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 appropriate stocking and reintroduction efforts.

 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.

 Research, monitoring and data management provides information about what these fish need to survive, grow, and

reproduce in the wild. Efforts include compiling data on the

numbers, sizes, and locations of endangered fish; monitoring

endangered fish population trends; and making river flow 

recommendations.

Program Overview

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

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

The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation

Program was established in 1991 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 Indian tribes.

It is anticipated that actions taken under this Program to recover the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker will provide

benefits to other native fishes in the basin and prevent them

from becoming endangered in the future.

Program Partners 

 Jicarilla Apache Tribe

 Navajo Nation

 Southern Ute 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 completion of 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 as identified in the

Flow Recommendations Report. In addition, augmentation

of habitat includes the removal of barriers to fish passage.

 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 overall success of the Recovery Program.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

7

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

n Since 1988, the Service has consulted on more than 600

water projects depleting 1,665,000 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 charges for water projects that deplete less than 100 acre-feet of water per year.

n Modifications to the Government Highline Canal will

improve efficiency and reduce diversions by more than

28,000 acre-feet per year on average.The “saved” water will

remain in the river and be legally protected for the fish.

n Since 1998, public and private cooperation has resulted 

in managed releases of 30,000 acre-feet of surplus water

from Green Mountain Reservoir and coordinated releases

from Ruedi and Wolford Mountain Reservoirs.This effort

helps meet the Service’s flow recommendations for the

endangered fishes.

n Recovery Program participants coordinated operations of

several reservoirs in Colorado during spring 1997–2000 to

provide additional flows in the Colorado River of about

2,500 cubic feet per second for 1 week during spring ru n o f f.

n The Bureau of Reclamation is preparing an environmental

impact statement for operations at Flaming Gorge Dam.

The EIS is slated for completion in 2001.

n The management plan for the Yampa River Basin is nearing

completion.A programmatic biological opinion (PBO) is

slated for completion in 2001. Planning has begun for a

PBO for the Gunnison River Basin.This PBO is slated for

completion in 2002.

n The City and County of Denver signed a recovery agreement in 2000, formalizing a commitment to provide

water from several Colorado reservoirs to benefit the

endangered fish. The agreement provides assurances to

water user organizations that planned water depletions

won’t jeopardize the fish.

8 2000-2001 Program Highlights

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

n A seven-year research program was completed in 1999.

Most of the final reports were published in 2000.

n Flow recommendations for the San Juan River were

approved in 1999 and the Bureau of Reclamation has

altered the timing and magnitude of releases from Navajo

Dam to meet these flow recommendations. An environmental impact statement is slated for completion in 2002.

n The long-range plan is currently being revised to incorporate Program actions that need to occur from 2001

through 2007.

n The Program Evaluation Report was completed by the

Biology Committee in 2000. This report summarizes the

knowledge gained from research efforts to date.

Highlights of

Recovery Program Accomplishments

Habitat Management

C o o p e rative efforts of public and priva te organizations 

res u l ts in coordinated re l e as es of water from res e rvoirs such as 

Wolford Mo u n tain near Kremmling, Colorado. 
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Re c ove ry Pro g ra m

n A 350-foot-long fish ladder, completed at Redlands

Diversion Dam on the Gunnison River in 1996, has

allowed passage of 51 endangered Colorado pikeminnow

and more than 40,000 other native fish.

n A fish passage was completed in January 1998 at the

Grand Valley Irrigation Company Diversion Dam on the

Colorado River.

n Floodplain/wetland habitat has been improved to benefit

endangered fish at five Bureau of Land Management sites

on the Green River; three sites at the Ouray National

Wildlife Refuge near Vernal, Utah; and two sites on the

Colorado River near Grand Junction.

n The Recovery Program has acquired 1,200 acres of floodplain/wetland habitat along the Green, Colorado, and

Gunnison rivers.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

n Flow regimes to restore native fish habitat have been

implemented.

n Construction of fish passage at the Hogback Diversion will

be completed in 2001. Construction of a fish passage

structure at the Public Service Company of New Mexico

weir will begin in the fall of 2001.

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

Floodplain/wetland habitat has been improved 

at many sites, including the Ouray National Wildlife Refuge 

near Vernal, Uta h .

Habitat Development

Native Fish Propagation and Stocking

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

The Recovery Program operates three hatchery facilities in

Colorado and Utah:

n O u r ay National Fish Hat ch e ry (Utah): Although the hat che ry is not yet fully operat i o n a l , it raised 28,000 razorback

s u cker in 2000. Some of those fish will be raised at the

h at ch e ry to produce future young for stock i n g. Others will

be stocked in the Green Rive r. The hat ch e ry is expected to

become fully operational in 2001.

n Wa h we ap Endangered Fish Facility (Utah):This site raised

114,466 bonytail in 2000.The fish we re stocked in the

Colorado and Green Rive r s.

n 24 Road Hat ch e ry (Colorado): An expansion completed i n

J u ly 2000 more than doubled the fa c i l i t y’s capacity to raise

e n d a n g e red fi s h .The new space will enable the hat ch e ry to

p roduce enough Colorado pike m i n n ow to meet the needs

i d e n t i fied in the Pro g r a m’s stocking plan. The hat ch e ry also

can increase the number of razorback sucker raised.

n The Ouray and 24 Road hat ch e ries use off-site, p ri vate and

p u bl i c ponds to expand their ability to raise gre ater nu mbers of fi s h .The Grand Va l l ey has ap p rox i m at e ly 25 acres of

ponds used to grow fish to larger sizes befo re stocking into

the ri ve r. In 2000, eight new ponds totaling 22 surfa c e

a c res we re constructed near DeBeque, C o l o r a d o. In the

Ve rnal are a , 7.5 acres of ponds we re leased and additional

ponds are being modified to raise fish on the Ouray

N ational Wi l d l i fe Refuge.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

n Native fish propagation and stocking has focused on stocking razorback sucker in growout ponds and about 6,000 in

the San Juan River. Approximately 800,000 larval Colorado

pikeminnow have been stocked in the San Juan River.
10 2000-2001 Program Highlights

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Re c ove ry Pro g ra m

n Federal and State wildlife agencies in Colorado, Utah, and

Wyoming finalized a Nonnative Fish Stocking Procedures

agreement in 1996 on stocking of nonnative sport fish. As

of 1998, the Wyoming Game and Fish Depart m e n t , the Utah

Division of Wildlife Resources, and the Colorado Division

of Wildlife had incorporated this agreement into their State

stocking requirements.

n To date, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, Colorado

Division of Wildlife, and the Service have removed more

than 20,500 nonnative channel catfish,21,700 nonnative

sunfish and bass,and 319,500 nonnative minnows from

rivers in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

n In 2000, 350 northern pike were translocated from the

Yampa River to Rio Blanco Reservoir in nort h west Colorado.

n Chemical reclamation of ponds adjacent to the Colorado

and Gunnison rivers to reduce sources contributing nonnative fishes to riverine habitats started in 1998.To date,

118 ponds have been surveyed, and 24 have been chemically reclaimed.This project continues in 2001 and 2002.

n A fish barrier net installed in 1999 in Highline Lake Reservoir near Grand Junction, C o l o r a d o, has signifi c a n t ly re d u c e d

escapement of nonnative sport fishes from the reservoir

and into reaches of critical habitat in the Colorado River.

n Recovery Program participants have coordinated public 

involvement activities for key Recovery Program actions,

including Colorado instream flow acquisition, c o n s t ru c t i o n

of fish passageways, coordinated reservoir operations,

water releases from Ruedi Reservoir, development and

implementation of nonnative fish stocking procedures,

acquisition and restoration of wetland habitat,Yampa River

and Grand Valley water management.

n The Recovery Program produces a wide range of educational materials, including a newsletter, brochure, video,

and portable and permanent interpretive exhibits.

n The Recovery Program maintains a Web site at

www.r6.fws.gov/coloradoriver.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

n 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.

n The Program is working with the Navajo Nation and the

State of New Mexico to transplant nonnative fish from the

river to local lakes.

n Full participation of the public in the San Juan River

Recovery Implementation Program is invited through 

open public meetings.The San Juan River Program also

maintains a Web site at http://southwest.fws.gov/sjrip.

Nonnative Species, Sportfishing and Public Information/Involvement

A fish barrier net in Colorado’s Highline Lake Res e rvoir has improved sportfishing opport u n i t i es 

while reducing nonnative fish encounters in the Colorado River
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 11

Research, Monitoring, and Data Management

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Re c ove ry Pro g ra m

n The final Green River flow and temperature recommendations were completed and approved by the Recovery

Program in April 2000. Follow-up studies are underway

to refine those recommendations.

n Draft flow recommendations for the Gunnison River were

completed in 2000 and are going through the Program’s

review process.

n Research will begin in 2001 to study the feasibility of

releasing warmer water at the Aspinall Unit Dam to

improve fish habitat in the Gunnison River.

n A population estimate for Colorado pikeminnow on the

Colorado River was initiated in 1991-1994. At that time

the Colorado pikeminnow population was estimated at

about 450 adults. The 1998-2000 estimates were around

650, indicating an increase.

n The Recovery Program is developing population estimates

for all endangered fish species throughout the Upper Basin.

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

n Research addresses young fish identification, habitat

mapping, effects of flow regimes on nonnative fish,

evaluation of stocked razorback sucker and Colorado

pikeminnow, and the importance of secondary channels.

The young, juvenile, and adult fish communities,the 

study of contaminants and fish health are also being 

monitored.Monitoring also includes channel morphology

and aspects of the river water. A large data management

aspect is the GIS-based integrated database.

B i o l o g i s ts use elec t rofishing equipment to sample endangered fish populations 

in the San Juan River downstream of Bluff, Uta h .
12 2000-2001 Program Highlights

E x p e n d i t u re s

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Total Expenditures = $91,963,200 (FYs 1998–2001)

Wa ter Users

$2,018,800

FY 88 Appro p r i a t i o n

$973,000

U ta h

$1,886,300

W y o m i n g

$788,300

Nonnative 

fish manag e m e n t

8%

Information, Education 

and Public Involvement

1%

Percentage Expenditures by Category (FY 2001 only)

C o l o ra d o

$7,164,900

Power Revenues

$26,375,100*

Fish & Wildlife 

S e rv i c e

$14,718,100

R eclamation 

( c a p i ta l )

$38,038,700**

R esearch 

and 

Mo n i t o r i n g

8%

P ro p agation and Genetics Ma n ag e m e n t

23%

Ha b i tat Res t o ra t i o n

25% P ro g ram Ma n ag e m e n t

15%

I n s t ream Flow 

Identification and

P ro tec t i o n

20%

** (Includes Reclamation capital 

appropriation of $20,979,700 under 

ESA authorization prior to FY 1999.

FY 1999–2001 appropriation under 

PL 106-392=$17,059,000.)

* (Includes capital

appropriations beginning FY 2001.)
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 13

E x p e n d i t u re s

San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Total Expenditures = $14,171,862 (FYs 1992–2001)

(Not including in-kind contributions)

Fish Pas s ag e

53%

R ec o v e ry

E f f o rts

8%

Mo n i t o r i n g

13%

H y d rology Mo d e l i n g

14%

* Future reimbursement to Bureau of Reclamation by

Animas-LaPlata Water Users

* * Includes funding authorized under Public Law

Percentage Expenditures by Category (FY 2001 only)

S ta te of New Me x i c o

$428,000

B u reau of Land Ma n ag e m e n t

$300,000

Power Revenues

$201,000

S ta te of Colora d o

$169,000

Southern Ute Indian Tr i b e

$111,700

Jicarilla Apache Tr i b e

$14,000

R es e a r c h

6%

P ro g ra m

Ma n ag e m e n t

6%

B u reau of

Indian Affairs

$5,853,862

B u reau of

R ec l a m a t i o n

$4,804,200* *

Wa ter Users

$1,220,600*

Fish & 

W i l d l i fe Serv i c e

$1,069,500
14 2000-2001 Program Highlights

The success of both Recove ry 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,

P u blic Law 106-392 was signed on October 30, 2 0 0 0 ,a u t h o ri zi n g the U. S .B u reau of Reclamation (USBR) to provide cost-shari n g

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 Recove ry Program and $18 million thro u g h

2007 for the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program.

Capital construction for these programs includes building

h at ch e ry facilities to produce endangered fish for stock i n g, re s t o ring floodplain hab i t at and fish passag e, re g u l ating and/or supplying instream hab i t at flow s ,installing screens to prevent fish entrapment in canals, and re m oving and/or re l o c ating nonnat i ve fi s h e s.

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 non-reimbursable Federal expenditure.

State Funding

The four participating states and power revenues each will contribute $17 million, and the Act recognizes the contribution 

of $20 million in expenditures that have been incurred for 

Long-term Funding Legislation

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Established Cost-sharing of Capital Construction for 

the Upper Colorado and San Juan Re c ove ry Pro g ra m s

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

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

Total $ 100 million

S o u rces of Re venue (Cost-sharing)

Federal Non-Federal

Congress: $46 million Power Revs: $ 17 million

States: $ 17 million

Water & Power: $ 20 million

Total $46 million Total $ 54 million

Power Revenues

The Secretary of Energy, acting through the Western Area Power

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

of 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

2 011, a n nual “ b a s e” funding of up to $4 million may be prov i d e d

for the Upper Colorado Program and up to $2 million may be

provided for the San Juan Program.After 2011, power revenues

m ay only be used to operate and maintain the capital projects and

for monitoring, unless Congress authorizes additional funding.

Cost-sharing by the Four Pa rticipating St a t e s

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 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

replacement power purchases due to modified operation of 

the CRSP hydropower facilities and the capital cost of water

released from Wolford Mountain Reservoir in Colorado to benefit the endangered fish.
Table 1

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Summary of Section 7 Consultations

(1/1988 through 12/31/2000)

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 A F),estimated at 3,000 A F. 2 New depletion associated with Animas-La Plata Project. 3 Source:2000 Animas-La Plata Project Biological Opinion.

Water Project Consultations

Under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act

Number of

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

Colorado 1 182 1,016,831.44 134,275.82 1,151,107.26 $ 440,844

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

Wyoming 31 3,715.83 16,487.68 20,203.51 162,711

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

Totals 244 1,442,415.01 222,557.45 1,664,972.46 $ 1,058,420

1 Includes the 15-Mile Reach Pro g r a m m atic Biological Opinion, 1 2 / 2 0 / 9 9 , on 1 million A F/yr of historic depletions (through September 30, 1995) 

a n d up to 120,000 AF/yr of new depletions (through September 30,1995) in the Colorado River above the confluence with the Gunnison River.

Thus far, the 15-Mile Reach PBO has covered 106 actual projects.

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

3 Represent blanket consultations for depletions under 100AF/yr, up to 6,000 AF/yr total.These three consultations have covered 375 actual projects

depleting 5,427 A F (4,008 AF in Colorado, 841 A F in Utah,and 578 A F in Wyoming).

4 Pre-FY 1990:$10/A F; FY 2001:$14.75/A F.

Historic New

Depletions Depletions Totals

Historic New

Depletions Depletions Totals

Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 15
16 2000-2001 Program Highlights

T

he Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery

and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation

Programs have a broad range of supporters.The followLetters of support for FY 2001 appropriations were sent to Cong ress by:

n State of Colorado

Bill Owens, Governor

n State of Utah

Michael O. Leavitt, Governor

n State of Wyoming

Jim Geringer, Governor

n Animas-La Plata Water Conservancy District, Durango, Colorado

Richard K. Griswold, President,Board of Directors

n Board of Water Works of Pueblo, Colorado

Alan C. Hamel, Executive Director

n Central Utah Water Conservancy District

Don A. Christiansen, General Manager

n Colorado Department of Natural Resources

Greg E. Walcher, Executive Director

n Colorado River Water Conservation District, Glenwood Springs, Colorado

Eric Kuhn, Secretary-Engineer

n Colorado Springs Utilities

Leah D. Ash,Director, Water Resources Department

n Colorado Water Congress

Frank E.“Sam” Maynes,Chairman, CWC Federal Affairs Committee

n Denver Board of Water Commissioners

H.J. Barry, III, Manager

n Wyoming State Engineer

Gordon W. “Jeff” Fassett

n New Mexico State Engineer

Thomas C. Turney

n Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, Loveland, Colorado

Eric W. Wilkinson, General Manager

n Public Service Company of New Mexico

Patrick J. Goodman,Vice President, Power Production

Letters of Support

ing organizations sent letters of support for FY 2001 appropriations. It is anticipated that these organizations also will support

the FY 2002 appropriations.
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 17
18 2000-2001 Program Highlights
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 19
20 2000-2001 Program Highlights
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 21
22 2000-2001 Program Highlights
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program 23
Pre s e rving the We st’s He r i t a g e

T

he Upper Colorado River and San

Juan River Basin Recove ry Pro g r a m s

a re national models of cost-effe c t i ve,

p u blic and pri vate partnerships working to

recover endangered species while allowing

water deve l o p m e n t to cont i nue in accordance

with state law and inters t ate compacts. T h e

P ro g r a m s’ e f fo rts will help ensure that the

Colorado pikeminnow, r a z o r b a ck sucke r,

h u m p b a ck chub and bonytail remain an

i m p o rtant part of the We s t’s heri t ag e.
Upper Colorado River Endangered

Fish Recovery Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

P.O. Box 25486, DFC

Denver, CO 80225

303-969-7322

303-969-7327 Fax

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

San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2105 Osuna NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

505-346-2525, ext. 152

505-346-2535 Fax

http://southwest.fws.gov/sjrip
Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program

Recovery Program Participants

Washington, D.C.Visit

March 15–20, 2001

John Shields

Chair,Management Committee

Upper Colorado River 

Recovery Program

Wyoming State Engineer’s Office

Herschler Building, 4th East

Cheyenne,WY 82002-0370

307-777-6151

307-777-5451 Fax

jshiel@state.wy.us

Tom Pitts

Water Users’Representative,Upper Colorado 

River and San Juan River Recovery Programs 

(New Mexico, Colorado, Utah,Wyoming) 

Water Consult

535 North Garfield Avenue

Loveland, CO 80537

970-667-8690

970-667-8692 Fax

h2orus@waterconsult.com

Kathleen Clarke 

Executive Director

Utah Department 

of Natural Resources

P.O. Box 145610

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5610

801-538-7200

801-538-7315 Fax

nradm.kclarke@state.ut.us

Darin Bird

Assistant Director

Utah Department 

of Natural Resources

P.O. Box 145610

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5610

801-538-7200

801-538-7315 Fax

nradm.dbird@state.ut.us

Kent Holsinger

Assistant Director

Colorado Department 

of Natural Resources

1313 Sherman Street, Room 718

Denver, CO 80203

303-866-3314

303-866-2115 Fax

kent.holsinger@state.co.us

Tom Blickensderfer

Endangered Species Coordinator

Colorado Department 

of Natural Resources

1313 Sherman Street, Room 718

Denver, CO 80203

303-866-3157

303-866-2115 Fax 

t.blick@state.co.us

Robert Wigington

Western Water Attorney

The Nature Conservancy 

2060 Broadway, Suite 230

Boulder, CO 80302

303-444-1060

303-541-0346 Fax

rwigington@tnc.org

Tom Iseman

Colorado Program Director of Water Protection

The Nature Conservancy

1881 Ninth Street, Suite 200

Boulder, CO 80302

303-444-2985, ext. 1021

303-444-2986 Fax

Christine Karas

Chief, Environmental Services Group

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

125 South State Street,Suite 7423

Salt Lake City, UT 84138-1102

801-524-3679

801-524-3858 Fax

ckaras@uc.usbr.gov

Robert King

Chief, Interstate Streams

Utah Division of Water Resources

P.O. Box 146201

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6201

801-538-7259

801-538-7279 Fax

nrwres.rking@state.ut.us

Leslie James

Executive Director

Colorado River Energy 

Distributors Association

4625 South Wendler Drive, Suite 111

Tempe, AZ 85282

602-748-1344

602-748-1345 Fax

creda@qwest.net 

Robert Muth

Director

Upper Colorado River Endangered 

Fish Recovery Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

P.O. Box 25486,DFC

Denver, CO 80225

303-969-7322

303-969-7327 Fax

robert_muth@fws.gov

Shirley Mondy

Program Coordinator

San Juan River Basin Recovery

Implementation Program

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

2105 Osuna NE

Albuquerque, NM 87113

505-346-2525,ext. 152

505-346-2535 Fax

shirley_mondy@fws.gov