The Razorback Suckers that are being grown are one of the species that are endangered in the Colorado River. Partners of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program are recovering four species of endangered fish in the Colorado River and its tributaries in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming while water use and development continues to meet human needs in compliance with interstate compacts and applicable federal and state laws. In all populations, reproductive failure or high mortality of young resulted in extremely low annual recruitment to the adult populations. Over time, natural mortality of adults without replacement by young led to gradual population declines. This project aims to establish a fish hatchery on the school grounds that supports the endangered fish of the Colorado River. This project will start by supporting the Razorback Sucker, a fresh water sucker fish found in rivers and lakes in the southwestern United States and has inhabited the Colorado River for the last 4 million years. By aiding the endangered fish populations, water use in the Grand Valley, as we currently enjoy it, will continue to be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

Our school motto is "think globally, act locally" and the hatchery is a great demonstration of how PHS students are fulfilling this. The Colorado River is a very important part of our community because of how it benefits our agricultural needs to grow our ever famous Palisade peaches and grapes. This is very important for food production and the overall local economy. In short, as the populations of endangered species of fish increase in the Colorado River, the more water that will be able to be diverted for the purposes of irrigating the agricultural land that is a strong base of the economy of the Grand Valley and the upper Colorado River Basin. The stretch of the Colorado River that runs through the DeBeque Canyon and the town of Palisade is an important breeding ground for a large number of the endangered species that call the Colorado River their home. This allows for ample water to flow and not be diverted by entities up river from these areas. In addition to the economic and environmental benefits, this project will also provide students with learning opportunities and hands on experience with maintaining the fish through their different stages of growth.

Each species in the Colorado River adds something to the ecosystem and without it, the ecosystem of the river is not right. By raising Razorback Suckers, we are able to contribute to helping to boost the ecosystems in the Colorado River and give back to nature. Additionally, the hatchery uses a recycled water system as the water recirculates to allow the same water to be cleaned through a filtration system, rather than new water being put into the hatchery constantly. Additionally, the filters that are used are recyclable and reusable to a certain extent, allowing the amount of waste of the hatchery to be limited. Furthermore, since the PHS hatchery receives equipment from the Ouray National Fish Hatchery, the majority of the equipment is used by the primary Grand Valley Unit, which allows not only the PHS hatchery to save on money and waste, but also prevent from over production of hatchery equipment by companies. The PHS Fish Hatchery also works to conserve water by using water that condenses from our air conditioning unit is gathered and used for hand washing and rinsing of equipment. In the near future, we plan to build raised growing beds outside of the hatchery to showcase local flora that will be watered entirely with waste water from the hatchery.