The Mountain-Prairie Region

NEWS RELEASE

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
134 Union Boulevard
Lakewood, Colorado 80228

November 20, 2001

CONTACT: Debbie Felker 303-969-7322, ext. 227
                    Karen Miranda Gleason 303-236-7917, ext.431

LAKEWOOD, Colorado .B On November 23, 2001, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reopen a public comment period on draft recovery goals to supplement and amend recovery plans for four species of endangered fish of the Colorado River Basin. The Service granted the additional 15-day comment period in response to requests for extension.

The draft recovery goals provide objective, measurable recovery criteria required to consider removing the humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow (formerly Colorado squawfish) and razorback sucker from Endangered Species Act protection. The goals identify site-specific management actions necessary to minimize or remove threats; establish objective, measurable criteria that consider demographic and genetic needs for self-sustaining, viable populations; and provide recovery time estimates.

The draft recovery goals were developed during the past year with input from public and private organizations representing seven states: Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada and California.

A Notice of Reopening of Public Comment will be published in the Federal Register on November 23, 2001. Comments will be accepted for 15 days and must be postmarked by December 8, 2001. The Service will review all comments and make any appropriate changes to the draft goals. A decision on the final goals will be made three to six months after the comment period closes. Final goals will supplement and amend the recovery plan for each species.

Draft recovery goals will be mailed to interested persons upon request and are available at mountain-prairie.fws.gov/ea/infopackets. For more information, contact the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, P.O. Box 25486, DFC, Lakewood, CO 80225, 303-969-7322, ext. 225.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is the principal Federal agency responsible for conserving, protecting and enhancing fish, wildlife and plants and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. The Service manages the 94-million-acre National Wildlife Refuge System which encompasses more than 530 national wildlife refuges, thousands of small wetlands and other special management areas. It also operates 70 national fish hatcheries, 64 fishery resource offices and 78 ecological services field stations. The agency enforces Federal wildlife laws, administers the Endangered Species Act, manages migratory bird populations, restores nationally significant fisheries, conserves and restores wildlife habitat such as wetlands, and helps foreign governments with their conservation efforts. It also oversees the Federal Aid program that distributes hundreds of millions of dollars in excise taxes on fishing and hunting equipment to state fish and wildlife agencies.

FWS Mountain-Prairie Region Website