Endangered Fish Recovery Efforts by the State of Wyoming

Pete Cavalli Endangered Species Lived in the Upper Green River… Illustrations by Joseph Tomelleri

Pikeminnow near Flaming Gorge Dam …Until It was Poisoned and Dammed

Rotenone Application: over 200 miles upstream of Flaming Gorge Dam

Big Sandy area

Little Hole area So, Why is Wyoming Involved?

• The purpose of the Recovery Program is to recover the endangered fishes while water development proceeds in compliance with all applicable Federal and State laws. • The Program provides Endangered Species Act compliance for federal, tribal, state, and private water projects throughout the Colorado River Basin above Lake Powell. >119,000 af/year covered in Wyoming How is Wyoming Involved?

Active Participant in UCREFRP Represented on all committees Follow NNF Stocking Procedures, Basin-wide Strategy, etc. Contributed $2,709,100 through FY 2016

UCREFRP Recovery Elements Research and Monitoring : Species Extirpated In WY Habitat Development: Species Extirpated in WY Stocking Endangered Fish: Suitable Habitat Inundated Habitat and Flow Management Nonnative Fish Management Information and Education Flow Management

Instream Flow 130 segments >2% of stream miles in WY Many segments in the Green River basin

Obtaining New Water Rights e.g., Pine Creek has direct flow and storage from both purchased rights and donated rights Other Mechanisms e.g., Pilot System Water Conservation Program Nonnative Fish Management: Burbot (aka ling, eelpout, etc.) Green River Drainage Green R.

New Fork R. 2013 2006 Big Sandy 2007 R. 2007-09 2003 Fontenelle Res. Big Sandy 2005 2001 Res. Jim Bridger Pond 2004 Green R. 2003 2007 Bitter Native to Wind/Bighorn and 2015 Cr. Powder/Tongue basins 2006 Blacks Fork R. Flaming Gorge -Extirpated from Res. Powder/Tongue 3 BBT caught since 2010 Green R. Yampa R. Illegally introduced to Big Sandy Res., Fontenelle Res., and possibly Flaming Gorge Res. Why Are Burbot A Problem?

 Illegally introduced to the Green River basin  Rapid range expansion  Long lived (up to 20 years) and they get big (40+ inches)  Abundant in some habitats, which are common  Very aggressive predator – large mouth enables them to eat forage (e.g., fish) half their length  High fecundity (63,000 to 3.5 million eggs)  Most active in water temps below 50F  Few predators in the Green River drainage Nonnative Fish Management: Research

Topics studied include: -age and growth -diet -movement -habitat use -sampling techniques -spawning ecology -rotenone toxicity -jumping ability -exploitation Nonnative Fish Management: Research Collaboration

Cooperators Include: Wyoming Game and Fish Department Utah Division of Wildlife Resources University of Wyoming University of Idaho Utah State University Colorado State University Montana State University Nonnative Fish Management: Fishing Regulations

Regulations have evolved over the last decade Started by increasing harvest limit (6 to 25) and then removing it (now there is no harvest limit) Allowed the use of up to six fishing rods during the winter Added a “must kill” regulation, and later classified burbot as nongame species outside of its native range to deal with the mercury issue; this allowed anglers to legally dispose of unwanted burbot (required action by the Wyoming Legislature) Use of artificial light allowed beginning in 2015 Nonnative Fish Management: Fishing Regulation Awareness Messages about laws related to illegal movement of fish included in Fishing Regulations, Angler Newsletters, and Press Releases $2,500 reward available for information related to illegal fish stocking Fine of up to $10,000 and up to one year imprisonment for illegally stocking fish Nonnative Fish Management: Harvest Burbot can be impacted by angling Regulation changes to increase mortality Supporting burbot tournaments -Removed ~30,000 fish and brought exposure to the problem Mechanical removal in Big Sandy drainage Information and Education: Outreach Radio Television Newspapers Angler Newsletters School Presentations Topics covered include: -Food web impacts -Burbot biology -Research results -Angling techniques -Recipes -etc. Information and Education: Products

Native Fish Products Produced -Posters -Stickers -Magnets Given Away at Local Events -Kid’s Fishing Day -Parades -School Activities -Festivals In Summary, the State of Wyoming

Actively participates in UCREFRP Has an active water management program Has aggressively attacked problematic exotic species such as burbot, white sucker, and northern pike Has changed fishing regulations to address problems associated with exotic species Has an active program to educate the public about the reason for wildlife management actions and the value of native species Thank you. Any questions?