ALBUQUERQUE, NM -- Researchers with the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program (San Juan Program) captured a 30.3-inch, 9.1-pound endangered Colorado pikeminnow this fall about 16 miles downstream of Shiprock, NM. This was the fourth largest Colorado pikeminnow captured in the San Juan River since 1991. It was estimated to be 10-15 years old. Researchers collected the fish while conducting adult fish monitoring and nonnative fish management activities as part of efforts to recover the Colorado pikeminnow and another endangered fish – the razorback sucker. The fish was tagged and returned to the river.
Only three other Colorado pikeminnow have been captured at larger sizes
since the early 1990s. Those fish were all wild adult fish, collected
between 1991 and 2000.
Few Colorado pikeminnow have been seen in the San Juan River since the
species became nearly extinct during the late 1990s. This fish was likely
the offspring of Colorado pikeminnow that were experimentally stocked by
the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources in the mid-1990s in an effort to
repopulate the river with this species. Finding a fish of this size and age
provides evidence that Colorado pikeminnow are out there and surviving.
Colorado pikeminnow were once abundant in the main stem of the Colorado
River and most of its major tributaries in New Mexico, Arizona, California,
Colorado, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. Populations of Colorado pikeminnow
began to decline during the 1960s. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
listed the species as endangered in 1967 and it received full protection
under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The Colorado pikeminnow is also
protected under state law by the seven Colorado River Basin states.
Following Utah’s experimental stocking efforts, the San Juan Program
implemented a formal stocking program in 2002 to reintroduce Colorado
pikeminnow in the San Juan River. At that time there were few, if any,
wild adult fish remaining in the San Juan River. Since 2002, stocking of
Colorado pikeminnow has continued on an annual basis. The Program is
stocking 350,000 to 450,000 age-0 Colorado pikeminnow annually. As a
result of these stocking efforts, numbers of Colorado pikeminnow in the San
Juan River are increasing.
Larval fish caught in 2004, 2007, 2009, and 2010 indicate that these
hatchery-produced fish are reproducing in the wild.
“Although capture of larval Colorado pikeminnow indicates spawning is
occurring, we need the fish to grow to maturity in the river to achieve a
self-sustaining population,” said San Juan Program Director Dave Campbell.
“In the last two years, we have started to capture some larger Colorado
pikeminnow, several that are nearly 20 inches in length, and we hope this
trend continues.”
In 2005 a researcher caught and tagged a 24-inch Colorado pikeminnow. That
same fish was caught again this year and measured 26 inches, demonstrating
that not all of the larger Colorado pikeminnow from the early 1990s were
lost. It takes a Colorado pikeminnow seven to 10 years to reach adulthood
after being stocked into the river, indicating that this fish came from an
adult that was alive in the early 1990s.
The Colorado pikeminnow is the largest minnow in North America and is an
endangered, native fish of the Colorado River system (which includes the
San Juan River). This species is thought to have evolved more than 3
million years ago. Called the “white salmon” by early settlers due to its
migratory behavior, the Colorado pikeminnow has a torpedo-shaped body and a
large, toothless mouth. It has an olive-green and gold back and a
silvery-white belly.
Colorado pikeminnow can live up to 40 years and were historically known to
grow to
6 feet long and weigh 80 pounds. Colorado pikeminnow are known for
long-distance spawning migrations of more than 200 miles in late spring and
early summer. They are capable of reproducing at 7 to 10 years of age.
Young Colorado pikeminnow feed on insects and plankton, whereas adults feed
on fish.
Today, two wild populations of Colorado pikeminnow are found in the Upper
Colorado River Basin – one in the upper Colorado River system and one in
the Green River system. The San Juan Program continues to stock Colorado
pikeminnow to develop a separate, self-sustaining population. Other
recovery actions include construction of fish passages and screens,
coordination of instream flows, management of nonnative fishes and
implementation of ongoing research and monitoring activities.
For more information, call 505-761-4712 or visit the San Juan Program’s
website: http://southwest.fws.gov/sjrip.
The San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program is a cooperative
partnership of American Indian Tribes; local, state and federal agencies;
water organizations; power customers and environmental groups established
in 1992 to recover endangered Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker
while water development proceeds in accordance with federal and state laws
and interstate compacts.
The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is working with others to
conserve, protect and enhance fish, wildlife, plants and their habitats for
the continuing benefit of the American people. We are both a leader and
trusted partner in fish and wildlife conservation, known for our scientific
excellence, stewardship of lands and natural resources, dedicated
professionals and commitment to public service. For more information on
our work and the people who make it happen, visit www.fws.gov.
“Wag’N” Donates pet masks
Carol Monaco, with Marketwise Insights, Inc., recently nominated Greater Brighton Fire to receive pet oxygen masks through a company called Wag’N. Brighton Fire was selected and Wag’N has donated pet O2 masks through a program called “O2 Fur Life” that provides the necessary equipment for pet rescue breathing. Greater Brighton Fire is one of only 14 fire departments in the State who have received pet O2 masks through this program. Five kits were donated through the program, which provides for one set of three masks for each of our five fire stations. Each kit contains three masks of different sizes for various size pets. The kits have been placed on the fire engines and crews have been trained in using the masks. Thank you to Carol and Wag’N for the generous donation.
