The Colorado Pikeminnow, Bonytail, Humpback Chub and Razorback Sucker fish might have some funny sounding names, but their importance to the Upper Colorado River Basin ecosystem is no joke, and neither is their declining numbers. In fact, the Humpback Chub has been fighting the good fight for 50 years now, gaining a spot on the Endangered Species list in 1967.

U.S. Sens. Cory Gardner (R-CO) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have joined a bipartisan effort in Washington to enact the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act of 2017, which would continue funding the Upper Colorado and San Juan fish recovery programs through FY2023, and aims to protect four primary endangered species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

“Protecting endangered species living in Colorado’s natural habitat can be done in a responsible manner, and I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation,” Gardner said. “Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program is a great example of a partnership between federal, state, and local agencies to promote conservation. It’s important we provide adequate resources to this project to ensure our partners on the ground have the necessary tools to protect these endangered species.”

Bennet adds that the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs are exemplary of the successful, collaborative conservation championed in the West by states, tribes, federal agencies, and other stakeholders.

“This bipartisan bill provides the resources to continue recovery efforts in the Upper Colorado River and to ensure that these endangered fish species are protected for years to come,” Bennet said.

Republican Sen. Orrin Hatch from neighboring Utah is a cosponsor of the legislation.

“This proposal will help guide the sustainable usage of our water resources in a way that fosters both species recovery and responsible development,” Hatch said.

“The San Juan and Upper Colorado River Fish Recovery Programs are vital to rebuilding our native fish populations that are an important part of our state’s heritage,” said Heinrich. “We cannot allow these important conservation programs to lapse and threaten the progress we’ve made up to this point. This bipartisan legislation will ensure federal, state and local agencies have the resources they need to continue protecting endangered species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.”

New Mexico’s Tom Udall, a democrat, says the San Juan River Basin is an important region in his state’s ecology, and the most successful way to balance the needs of water security with species conservation is to work collaboratively with local, state, Tribal, federal and non-governmental partners to find solutions.

“This initiative has been an excellent example of how we can conserve natural habitats by working together,” Udall said.

The Upper Colorado River Basin is home to 14 native fish species, including the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow, and razorback sucker. These endangered fish are found only in the Colorado River system.

Sen. Martin Heinrich (D-NM) also co-signed the bill. Rep. John Curtis (UT-3) introduced the companion bill in the House.

Humpback Chub (Gila cypha)The humpback chub is a big-river minnow found only in canyon sections of the Colorado River Basin. It was first listed as endangered in 1967 and was given full protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. There are six known populations with the largest in the Grand Canyon. The other populations are above Lake Powell in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Individuals may reach 20 inches in length and live 30 years. Adults are capable of reproducing at 2 to 3 years of age, and spawning occurs in spring and early summer. Humpback chub feed on insects, plankton, and plant matter.

Bonytail (Gila elegans)The bonytail is a big-river minnow that was historically common throughout the Colorado River Basin. It was listed as endangered and given full protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1980. This is the rarest of the four endangered Colorado River fish species and wild populations no longer exist. Individuals may reach 22 inches in length and live 50 years. Adults are capable of reproducing at 2 to 3 years of age, and spawning probably occurred in spring and early summer. Bonytail feed on insects, plankton, and plant matter. The species is being reintroduced into the Green, and upper Colorado rivers, Lakes Mojave and Havasu, and the lower Colorado River to Yuma, Arizona.

Colorado Pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus lucius)The Colorado pikeminnow is a big-river minnow found only in the Colorado River Basin. It was first listed as endangered in 1967 and was given full protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1973. Valued as food by early settlers and miners throughout the basin, wild populations now only occur in rivers upstream of Glen Canyon Dam, Arizona, and are stable or increasing. Individuals may reach 6 feet in length, weigh 80 pounds, and live 40 years. Known for long-distance spawning migrations of more than 200 miles in late spring and early summer, adults are capable of reproducing at 5 to 7 years of age. Young Colorado pikeminnow feed on insects and plankton, whereas adults feed mostly on fish. The species is being reintroduced into the San Juan and Verde rivers.

Razorback Sucker (Xyrauchen texanus)The razorback sucker is a big-river fish found only in the Colorado River Basin. It was listed as endangered and given full protection under the Endangered Species Act in 1991. Valued as food by early settlers and miners, wild populations of razorback sucker are now extremely rare, declining, and consist primarily of adults. Poor survival of young has been attributed to loss of habitat and predation by nonnative fishes. Individuals may reach 36 inches in length, weigh 14 pounds, and live 40 years. Adults are capable of reproducing at 3 to 4 years of age, and spawning occurs during high spring flows. Razorback sucker feed on insects, plankton, and plant matter. The species is being reintroduced into the Green, Gunnison, upper Colorado and San Juan rivers, Lakes Mojave and Havasu, and the lower Colorado and Verde rivers.