The following is a document archive for the native fish of the Colorado River, which have the highest rate of jeopardy toward extinction in the nation. Read article here.

Historically, the native fish fauna of the Colorado River Basin was dominated by the minnow (cyprinids) and sucker (catostomids) families. Of the 34 known native species to the Colorado River basin, 74% are found nowhere else in the world, or endemic.

Threats to these species include streamflow regulation and habitat modification, altered food web, predation by nonnative fish species, parasitism, hybridization with other native fish species, and pesticides, toxins and pollutants. These changes to the river environment have occurred so quickly that the species have been unable to a adapt, so pro-active human intervention is the only hope they have. Since the river is truncated by 83 dams in the upper basin and 10 dams in the lower basin, this loss of genetic diversity will also impede their recovery.

DIGITIZED LIBRARY of Dr. W. L. Minckley. Native Fish Lab. (Most excellent resource library)

ARIZONA ECOLOGICAL SERVICES Document Library

SEARCH ENGINE of US Fish and Wildlife Service

DOCUMENTS AND PUBLICATIONS. Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program

Click here to view bibliographies of endangered fish research

Citizen's Guide to NEPA

Section 7 Consultation Handbook

Regulations for implementing the procedural provisions of NEPA 

NEPA 101. Dinah Bear.

Climate Change Effects Proposed Actions Effects On Proposed Actions Under NEPA. Dinah Bear.

DESIGNATED CRITICAL HABITATS

• Federal Register
• Overview by Maddux et al. 1993.
  

1. Green River from Gates of Lodore (Dinosaur National Monument) to the Colorado River confluence, Colorado and Utah.
2. Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument, Colorado.
3. White River from Rio Blanco Lake Dam to the Green River confluence, Colorado and Utah.
4. Duchesne River from river mile 2.5 to Green River Confluence, Utah.
5. Colorado River from Colorado River Bridge (I-70, exit 90 in Rifle) to North Wash (Lake Powell), Colorado and Utah.
6. Gunnison River from the confluence of the Uncompahgre River to the Colorado River confluence, Colorado.
7. San Juan River from State Route 371 Bridge (Farmington) to Neskahai Canyon (Lake Powell), New Mexico, Colorado and Utah.
8. Colorado River from confluence of Paria River to Imperial Dam, Arizona, Nevada and California.
9. Little Colorado River from river mile 8 to Colorado River confluence.
10. Gila River from New Mexico border to Coolidge Dam, Arizona.
11. Salt River from Highway 60 Bridge to Roosevelt Diversion Dam.
12. Verde River from boundary of Prescott National Forest to Horseshoe Dam.
    

Note: Includes 100-year river floodplain and full pool elevation of reservoirs. Lake Powell is not critical habitat except for the uppermost arms of San Juan and Colorado rivers. Total river mileage is 1,980.

ACADEMIC RECOVERY PLANS

• 2003 - A Conservation Plan for Native Fishes of the Lower Colorado River. Minckley et al.

Gila River Basin

• 2003 - Part One: Status Report of Listed Arizona Fishes in Gila River Basin With Recommendations for Recovery. Desert Fishes Team.
• 2003 - Part Two: Status Report of Listed Arizona Fishes in Gila River Basin With Recommendations for Recovery. Desert Fishes Team.
• 2003 - Part Three: Analysis of Recovery Plan and Implementation for Threntened and Endangered Fish in the Gila River Basin. Desert Fishes Team.

BIOLOGICAL OPINIONS/MEMOS by US Fish and Wildlife Service unless specified.

• 1978 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 1979 - Biological Opinion, Dallas Park Project
• 1980 - Biological Opinion, Dolores River Project
• 1992 - Biological Opinion, Flaming Gorge Dam
• 1994 - Designation of critical habitat in Colorado River Basin
• 1994 - Substantiating Report of Glen Canyon Dam with Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act
• 1994 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 1994 Biological Opinion CAP Water in Gila River Basin
• 1995 - Memo in response to 1994 BiOp. Reclamation.
• 1997 - Biological Opinion Fall GCD Test Flow
• 1996 - Biological Opinion of Modified Roosevelt Dam
• 1997 - Instream Flow Recommendations Lower Gunnison. Burdick.
• 1997 - Biological Opinion Fall GCD Test Flow
• 1997 - Biological Opinion, Lower Colorado River
• 1997 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 1997 - Biological Opinion, Lower Colorado operations
• 1999 - Biological Opinion of the Upper Colorado
• 1999 - Draft Biological Opinion Gila Topminnow Santa Cruz River Basin
  
• 1999 - Flow Recommendations for San Juan River
• 2001 - Biological Opinion, Surplus Criteria
• 2002 Biological Opinion Mead to Southern International Boundary
• 2002 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 2002 - Biological Opinion, Lower Colorado River
• 2003 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 2004 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 2004 - Biological Opinion, Moab Uranium Mill
• 2005 -Biological Conference Opinion LCR MSCP
  
• 2005 - Biological Opinon, Yampa River
• 2005 - Biological Opinion, Flaming Gorge Dam
• 2005 - Biological Opinion, Multiple-Species Conservation Program
• 2005 - Biological Assessment, Grand Canyon National Park
• 2006 - Biological Opinion, Navajo Dam
• 2006 - Experimental Flow Options, Glen Canyon Dam
• 2007 - Biological Opinion, Shortage Criteria
• 2008 Record Of Decision Lower Duchesne Wetlands Mitigation Project
• 2008 - Biological Opinion, Glen Canyon Dam
• 2008 - Biological Assessment, Aspinall Unit (Gunnison River). Reclamation.
• 2008 - Abundance Trends & Status of LCR Population of HBC with data from 1989 to 2006. Coggins.
• 2009 - Abundance Trends & Status of LCR Population of HBC with data from 1989 to 2008. Coggins.
• 2009 - Supplemental Biological Opinion Glen Canyon Dam
• 2009 - BiOp for Desert Rock Energy Project
  
• 2010 - Biological Assessment, Green River Pumping Project. Reclamation.
• 2010 - Biological Opinion Glen Canyon Dam
• 2011 - Biological Opinion Glen Canyon Dam (HFE & NNFC)
  
• Sufficient Progress Reports from FWS, Glen Canyon Dam (combined)
  
• Sufficient Progress Reports from Reclamation, Glen Canyon Dam (combined)
  

FLOW RECOMMENDATIONS

• 1988 - Yampa River flow study
• 1990 - Yampa River streamflow needs
  
• 1995 - Yampa River Flow Reccomendation
• 1995 - Colorado River 15 mile reach study
• 1997 - Instream Flow Recommendations Lower Gunnison
• 1999 - San Juan River flow reccomendation
• 1999 -  Yampa River Study
  
• 2000 - Flaming Gorge Dam Flow Recommendations
• 2000 - White River Study
  
• 2001 - Colorado River Rifle to Palisade Recommendation
  
• 2003 - Gunnison and Colorado River Flow Recommendation
• 2003 - Duchesne River Final Report
• 2003 - Duchesne High Flow Report
• 2004 - White River Base Flow Study & Appendices
  
• 2007 - Green River Study Plan
• 2008 - Yampa River Addendum
  
• 2011 - Aspinall Study Plan
• 2012 - Price RiverFlow Recommendation
  
• 2013 - Duchesne Progess Report
  

LISTING IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER

1. 1994 - Designation of critical habitat in Colorado River Basin
2. Colorado pikeminnow - March 11, 1967 (32 FR 4001)
3. humpback chub - March 11, 1967 (32 FR 4001)
4. bonytail chub - April 23, 1980 (45 FR 27713)
5. razorback sucker - October 23, 1991 (56 FR 54957)

COLORADO RIVER AND ITS TRIBUTARIES

Colorado River Mainstem

• 2005 - Predatory Fish Removal and Native Fish Recovery in the Colorado River Mainstem. Mueller. 
• 2011 - Humpback Chub Five-Year Status Review.

Upper Colorado River

• 1998 - Geomorphology and endangered fish habitats of the upper Colorado River. Vanstetter.
• 1998 - Status and Trends of Colorado Pikeminnow. Osmundson et al.
• 2001 - Comments on the recovery goals for endangered fish. Coggins and Gloss; GCMRC. 
• 2003 - Populations Estimates for Chubs in Westwater Canyon. Utah Division of Wildlife.
• 2006 - Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Populations. UCR Recovery Program.
• 2007 - Utah conservation plan for threatened fish species. Utah Division of Wildlife.

Gunnison River

• 1997 - Instream Flow Recommendations Lower Gunnison. Burdick.
• 2007 - Analysis of Dissolved Selenium. Thomas, et al.

Dolores River

• 1992 - Dolores River Native Fish Habitat Study. Valdez, et al.

Green River

• 1962 - The Rotenone Project (native fish genocide). Halverson.
  
• 2000 - Effects of Tusher Wash Diversion Dam on Native Fish. Utah Division of Wildlife.
• 2006 - Annual report of operations at Flaming Gorge Dam
• 2007 - Green River Study Plan
• 2007 - Annual report of operations at Flaming Gorge Dam
• 2008 - Annual report of operations at Flaming Gorge Dam
  
• 2010 - Analysis of Tusher Wash Diversion Dam
  

Yampa River

Canyonlands (Southeast Utah Group)

• 1990 - Endangered Fish of Cataract Canyon. Valdez.
• 1999 - Driftwood: an alternative habitat for macroinvertebrates in a large desert river. Haden et al.
• 1999 - Movement patterns, behavior, and habitat use of razorback sucker stocking into the Green River at Canyonlands National Park, Utah. Foster et al.
• 2000 - Spatiotemporal Variation in Length-Weight Relationships of Endangered Humpback Chub for Conservation and Management. Meretsky et al.
• 2003 - Benthic Community of Colorado River in Canyonlands. Haden.
• 2008 - Population Estimates for Humpback Chub in Cataract Canyon 2003-2005. Badame.

Glen Canyon National Recreation Area (Lake Powell)

San Juan River

• 1996 - Colorado Pikeminnow Distribution and Movement. Ryden.
  

Grand Canyon  

• 1994 - Management of Discharge, Temperature, and Sediment in Grand Canyon for Native Fish. Clarkson et al.
• 1996 - Organic Drift In Regulated Desert Rivers. Shannon.
• 1997 - Habitat Relationships of Subadult Humpback Chub in the Colorado River through Grand Canyon. Converse et al.
• 1998 - Algal Ecology Tailwater below GC Dam. Blinn.
• 1999 - Response Benthose Organic Drift to Controlled Flood. Blinn.
• 2000 - Spatiotemporal Variation in Length-Weight Relationships of Endangered Humpback Chub for Conservation and Management. Meretsky et al.
• 2000 - Reservoir River Linkages Colorado River below GC Dam. Benenati.
• 2000 - Leaf Breakdown Regulated Colorado River. Pomeroy.
• 2001 - Drifting Particulate Matter Below GC Dam. Benenati.
• 2002 - Monitoring and Research: The Aquatic Food Base in the Colorado River, Arizona During 1991-2001. Benenati et al.
• 2004- Evidence for the failure of the modified low fluctuating flow. Korman et al.
• 2005 - State of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon. US Geological Survey.
• 2007 - Abundance Trends and Status of the Little Colorado River Population of Humback Chub: An update Considering 1989 - 2006 Data. Coggins.
• 2009 - List of extirpated species in Grand Canyon
• 2010 - Colorado River Fish Monitoring in Grand Canyon 2000 - 2009. USGS.
• 2011 - Analysis of the 2000 low steady flow. Ralston.
• 2013 - Grand Canyon & Glen Canyon Comprehensive Fisheries Plan Environmental Assessment & FONSI.

Lower Colorado River

• 1999 - First Meeting of Lower Colorado Recovery Implementation Plan by the  Scientific Work Group (RIP SWG).
• 2003 - Salton Sea Study Status Report
• 2002 - Lost, a desert river and its native fishes: A historical perspective. Mueller and Marsh. US Geological Survey.
• 2000 - Summary Salton Sea Restoration Project Draft EIS EIR

       Multiple Species Conservation Program

• 2006 - LCR MSCP Final Fish Augmentation Plan
  
• 2006 - LCR MSCP Draft Guidelines Potential Conservation Area
• 2005 - LCR MSCP Section 10 Permit
  
• 2005 - LCR MSCP Implementing Agreement
  
• 2005 - LCR MSCP Funding Management Agreement
  
• 2004 - LCR MSCP Habitat Conservation Plan
  
• 2004 - LCR MSCP Final BA
  
• 1997 - MSCP Joint Participation Agreement
• 1997 - Modification of LCR MSCP Agreement
• 1996 - LCR MSCP Agreement
  
• 1996 - Amendment 2 LCR MSCP Agreement
• 1996 - Amendment 1 to LCR MSCP Agreement
  
• 1995 - MOU for Development of LCR MSCP

Salton Sea

• 2000 - Salton Sea FEIS. USBR.
• 2005 - Salton Sea Pilot Project EA & FONSI. USBR.

Gulf of California, Delta and Limitrophe

• Vaquita Porpoise
• Totoaba
• 2005 - Yuma Desalting Plant Cienega De Santa Clara Workgroup Report
• 2001 - Colorado River Delta Binational Symposium

• Pie chart of fish communities in Grand Canyon. USGS.

INVENTORY

• 1975 - At confluence of major tributaries in Grand Canyon 
• 1982 - Colorado River Fishery Project

PHOTOS

1. Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius) (photo)
2. humpback chub (Gila cypha) (photo) (close-up not public domain)
3. bonytail chub (Gila elegans) (photo)
4. razorback sucker (Xyrauchen texanus) (photo)

Photos for detailed identification

• Bluehead sucker
• Flannelmouth sucker
• Colorado Pikeminnow
• Razorback sucker
• Roundtail chub
• Young humpback chub

PRESS

• 2010 - One tough sucker. High Country News.

RECOVERY GOALS

• 1990 - Humpback Chub
  
• 2002 - Colorado pikeminnow
• 2002 - Humpback chub
• 2002 - Bonytail chub
• 2002 - Razorback sucker

Five-year Reviews

• 2011 - Humpback chub 5-year review
• 2011 - Colorado pikeminnow 5-year review
• 2012 - Bonytail chub 5-year review
• 2012 - Razorback sucker 5-year review
  

• HOME PAGE
  
• 1987 - Environmental Assessment
• 1988 - Cooperative Agreement Recovery Implementation Program Upper Colorado River Basin
• 2001 - Extension Upper Colorado River Basin Cooperative Agreement
• 2009 - CoOp Agreement Extension

• Sufficient Progress Reports: 1992; 1995; 1996; 1997; 1998; 1999; 2000; 2001; 2002; 2003; 2004; 2005; 2006; 2007; 2008; 2009; 2010; 2011; 2012;
• Revised Sufficient Progress Process Format

• HOME PAGE
• 1992 - Cooperative Agreement San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program
• 2006 - Extension San Juan River Cooperative Agreement

FISH SPECIES

Razorback Sucker

2014 - Conservation to Stem Imminent Extinction: The Fight to Save Razorback Sucker in Lake Mojave and Its Implications. Marsh et al.

• 2008 - Active Adaptive Management for Conservation of Native Fish in Grand Canyon. Coggins.
• 2007 - Water availibilty from Flaming Gorge Reservoir. Reclamation.
• 2006 - LCR MSCP Final Fish Augmentation Plan
  
• 2006 - LCR MSCP Draft Guidelines Potential Conservation Area
• 2005 - Yuma Desalting Plant Cienega De Santa Clara Workgroup Report
  
• 2005 - LCR MSCP Section 10 Permit
  
• 2005 - LCR MSCP Implementing Agreement
  
• 2005 - LCR MSCP Funding Management Agreement
  
• 2004 - LCR MSCP Habitat Conservation Plan
  
• 2004 - LCR MSCP Final BA
  
• 2003 - Salton Sea Study Status Report
• 2001 - Colorado River Delta Binational Symposium
  
• 2000 - Summary Salton Sea Restoration Project Draft EIS EIR
  
• 1997 - MSCP Joint Participation Agreement
• 1997 - Modification of LCR MSCP Agreement
• 1996 - LCR MSCP Agreement
  
• 1996 - Amendment 2 LCR MSCP Agreement
• 1996 - Amendment 1 to LCR MSCP Agreement
  
• 1995 - MOU for Development of LCR MSCP
  
• 1994 - Substantiating Report of Glen Canyon Dam with Fish and Wildlife Coordination Act

A CHRONOLOGY OF PUBLIC COMMENTS (under construction)

• 2000 - Scoping Comments on EIS for Flaming Gorge Dam. Living Rivers.
• 2001 - Comments on Recovery Goals for the Colorado River Endangered Fish. GCMRC.
• 2001 - Comments on Recovery Goals for Colorado River Endangered Fish. Living Rivers et al.
• 2002 - Letter to department of Interior demanding action on restoration of Grand Canyon. Living Rivers.
• 2002 - DEIS: Navajo Dam. Living Rivers
• 2003 - Concerns regarding Glen Canyon Dam Adaptive Management Program. Living Rivers.
• 2004 - Scoping Comments for Environmental Impact Statement for the Aspinall Unit of the Gunnison River. Living Rivers.
• 2004 - Calling for SEIS on Glen Canyon Dam. Living Rivers.
• 2004 - Demanding BuRec action to correct failing federal program to recover Grand Canyon native fish. Living Rivers.
• 2004 - DEIS: Flaming Gorge Dam. Living Rivers.
• 2007 - EIS: Long-Term Experimental Plan. Living Rivers.
• 2008 - LR comments on EA for operations at Glen Canyon Dam 2008-2012. Living Rivers.
• 2009 - DEIS: Aspinall Unit. Living Rivers.

Additional reading

• 1962 - The Rotenone Project (native fish genocide). Halverson. 
• Click here to view bibliographies of endangered fish research 
• List of extirpated species in Grand Canyon. 2009.
• Gulf of California endangered species:
     Vaquita Porpoise
     Totoaba  
• Case Study of the Endangered Fish Recovery Program of the Upper Colorado River. Karen Hopgl; John Hamill;
• Collaborative Management of Glen Canyon Dam: The Elevation of Social Engineering over Law. Joseph M. Feller.
• Desert Fishes Council
• Resolutions (including ESA reform). Colorado River Water Users Association (CRWUA).
• Selenium Effects on Endangered Fish in the Colorado River Basin
• Southwest Hydrology: Endangered Species Act
• 2008 testimony from Reclamation Commissioner
• Undamming Glen Canyon: Lunacy, Rationality, or Prophecy. Scott Miller.