The Division of Wildlife Resources provided an update this week on recovery efforts of fish protected under the federal endangered species act. The Colorado River Basin alone has four species of fish that are listed meaning conservation efforts are ongoing. The fish are the razorback sucker, Colorado pikeminnow, humpback chub, and bonytail. “These species are uniquely adapted to the Colorado and San Juan river basins and aren’t found anywhere else on Earth,” shares DWR Recovery Programs Director Sarah Seegert. “They are part of Utah’s natural heritage, and the DWR is committed to preserving that heritage. Protecting these species means also protecting the rivers they live in and ensuring that people can continue to enjoy recreating on the Colorado and San Juan rivers into the future.” Conservation efforts include things such as coordinating water releases from Flaming Gorge and managing non-native fish species through removal efforts and chemical treatments. Their efforts must be paying off at least in part as the humpback chub was downlisted from endangered to threatened in 2021.
