04-13-2004, 09:16 PM
[#660000][size 4]Northern pike and smallmouth bass management remains focus of research in Colorado and Utah[/size][/#660000] [ul] [li][url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/nonnative/q_and_a.html"][#800080]Utah nonnative fish management questions and answers[/#800080][/url] [li][url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/nonnative/nnfishfacts.pdf"][#0000ff]Nonnative fish species that are focus of research[/#0000ff][/url] [size 2]— ([/size][url "javascript:;"][#0000ff][size 2]PDF[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2] format)[/size] [li][url "http://www.wildlife.utah.gov/fishing/nonnative/endangeredfishfacts.pdf"][#800080]Endangered fish facts[/#800080][/url] [size 2]— ([/size][url "javascript:;"][#0000ff][size 2]PDF[/size][/#0000ff][/url][size 2] format)[/size] [/li][/ul]
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Management of nonnative northern pike and smallmouth bass remains the focus of research conducted by biologists participating in the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program). This is the second year of experimental removal efforts to determine if biologists can reduce the numbers of certain nonnative fish species in rivers to a level where they no longer threaten the survival of the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker.
Scientific evidence demonstrates that these nonnative fish species, as well as channel catfish, pose a significant threat to the survival of endangered fish because they prey upon them and compete for food and space.
"This research will help identify the level of management required to minimize the threat of nonnative fishes to the endangered fishes to satisfy criteria for recovery of these species," said Recovery Program Director Robert Muth. "We will assess the data each year to determine future nonnative fish management actions."
Efforts will expand from last year to include additional river sections, work crews and removal trips. From April through October, biologists will work in 515 miles of the Colorado, Yampa, Green, and Duschesne rivers in the states of Colorado and Utah. In Utah, smallmouth bass and northern pike are the fish targeted for removal.
Although channel catfish were included in last year's research effort, capture methods proved inadequate for effective removal. With the exception of Yampa Canyon, where effective removal has been demonstrated, channel catfish control has been discontinued. If new technologies can be developed that are more effective at capturing catfish, the Recovery Program may implement catfish capture and removal in the future and evaluate the results.
Follow-up sampling from this year's northern pike and smallmouth bass efforts will determine if management efforts reduced the numbers of targeted nonnative fishes in sections where they were removed. Monitoring of endangered and other native fishes will determine if numbers of these species increase.
This year's nonnative fish management effort is the largest known riverine project of its kind. It is a collaborative effort among the Colorado Division of Wildlife, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Recovery Program and biologists from Colorado State University.
"It's important for us to learn whether removing nonnative fish is an effective way to increase the number of native fish in the river system," said Kevin Conway, director of the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources. "This year's nonnative removal projects are part of that evaluation."
Earlier this year, Recovery Program partners, which include state and federal agencies, environmental groups and water and power user organizations in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, adopted a policy that addresses the process of identifying and implementing nonnative fish management actions needed to recover the endangered fish.
"This was a landmark event because it clearly demonstrates that these diverse organizations recognize that management of nonnative fish is essential to achieve and maintain recovery of the endangered fishes," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Mountain-Prairie Regional Director Ralph Morgenweck, who also chairs the Recovery Program's Implementation Committee. "The policy also recognizes the dual responsibilities of state and federal fish and wildlife agencies to conserve listed and other native fish species while providing for recreational fishery opportunities."
Nonnative fish management is only one of several actions the Recovery Program is implementing to recover the endangered fishes. Efforts are also ongoing to provide river flows, restore habitat, construct fish ladders and screens, produce and stock endangered fish and monitor results.
For more information, call the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources' Vernal office at (435) 781-9453 or its Salt Lake City office at 801-538-4700. Information is also available at the Division of Wildlife Resources' Internet Web site (wildlife.utah.gov) or the Recovery Program's Web site (ColoradoRiverRecovery.fws.gov).
Established in 1988, the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is a voluntary, cooperative program whose purpose is to recover the endangered fishes while water development proceeds in accordance with federal and state laws and interstate compacts.
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