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Assessment of Potential Augmentation and Management Strategies for Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus in Lake Mead and Grand Canyon: A 2021 Science Panel Summary
Ecology Center Publications
  • Casey A. Pennock, Utah State University
  • Phaedra Budy, Utah State University
  • Scott A. Bonar, University of Arizona
  • Thomas E. Dowling, Wayne State University
  • Keith B. Gido, Kansas State University
  • Eliza I. Gilbert, Ecological Services Office
  • Brian R. Kesner, Marsh & Associates
  • Craig P. Paukert, University of Missouri
  • Michael C. Quist, University of Idaho
  • Julie Stahli, Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program
  • Thomas F. Turner, University of New Mexico
  • David L. Ward, Grand Canyon Monitoring and Research Center
Document Type
Report
Publisher
Utah State University
Publication Date
1-1-2022
Abstract

Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus is a large-bodied, long-lived species endemic to the Colorado River Basin. This species historically ranged throughout the basin from the Colorado River delta in Mexico to Wyoming and Colorado. Currently, the species persists ,in a small portion of its historical range with the help of intensive management efforts including augmentation. Recruitment to adult life stages is extremely limited in the wild, but is documented consistently in Lake Mead. Research and monitoring efforts in Lake Mead are ongoing since 1996 and have recently expanded to include the Colorado River inflow area and portions of lower Grand Canyon. Despite evidence of recruitment, the current population size in Lake Mead and Grand Canyon is believed to be small (data) and susceptible to stochastic effects. This raised interest in the potential to augment the population to prevent loss of genetic diversity and increase abundance and distribution in general, as well as explore recruitment bottlenecks. To address critical uncertainties surrounding this management option and to brainstorm other potential options, a Planning Committee and Steering Committee made up of representatives of state (Arizona, Nevada), tribal (Hualapai Tribe, Navajo Nation), and federal (Bureau of Reclamation, National Park Service, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) management agencies convened an Expert Science Panel (ESP; 2021), to consider augmentation and management strategies for Razorback Sucker in Lake Mead and Grand Canyon. The purpose of this report is to summarize those findings.

Citation Information
Pennock, C. A., P. Budy, S. A. Bonar, T. E. Dowling, K. B. Gido, E. I. Gilbert, B. R. Kesner, C. P. Paukert, M. C. Quist, J. Stahli, T. F. Turner, and D. L. Ward. 2022. Assessment of potential augmentation and management strategies for Razorback Sucker Xyrauchen texanus in Lake Mead and Grand Canyon: A Science Panel Summary. UTCFWRU 2022 (3):1-31.