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Whafs The Problem? The Upper Colorado River Basin is home to 14 native fish species; eight of these have seriously declined; and four - the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bonytail, and humpback chub - are listed as endangered under the federal Endan- gered Species Act. Habitat modifica- tions have severely affected the ability of these fish to survive. Loss of habitat is considered to be a major factor that has contributed to the decline of these fish. As water has been developed and diverted for other uses, and as floodplains have been developed, the habitats upon which the fish depend for survival has been reduced. One key type of habitat that has been eliminated is floodplain bottomlands. These shallow riparian wetlands are believed to be important for survival of the fish because they provide food, shelter, spawning, and resting areas during high flows. What's Being Done? The U.S. Fish and Wtldlife Service is working in partnership with key organizations to ensure that these fish will survive. Under the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, the state of Colorado, the state of Utah, the state of Wyoming, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Region 6), the Western Area Power Administration, environmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense FUnd, water development interests, and federal power customers are working together to recover these fish in a manner that allows water develop- ment to continue and minimizes impacts to electrical and recreational uses of the rivers. Efforts are underway to raise and stock fish, to ensure adequate river flows, to restore fish passage at migration barriers, to reduce impacts from nonnative fish, and to provide habitat. Floodplain wetlands, S'ltch as tluise almtg tlui Green River, are important to tlui survival of endangeredJ1.3h. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Easement Program One component of the Recovery Program seeks to restore and protect floodplain habitat to support recovery of the endangered fish. This effort includes the purchase of perpetual conservation easements from willing landowners who own property along the Green, Colorado, and Gunnison Rivers in Utah and Colorado. Conservation easements are limited to the rights necessary to restore and protect endangered fish habitat, primarily the right to allow the river to inundate the property during high flow events. Some easements will protect areas that currently flood. Other easements will allow restora- tion of historical flood frequency and duration. All easements are perpetual and will pass along with transfers in ownership. The use of conservation easements is considered an effective non-regulatory approach for restoring and protecting habitat Although the purpose of these easements is to provide habitat for endangered fish, it is anticipated that other wildlife will benefit as well. Riverine wetlands and backwaters provide spawning, nursery, shelter, and feeding areas for many species of fish, including the endangered species, and floodplain bottom- lands provide a rich productive mix of habitats that benefits many species of mam- mals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, and plants. More than 90 percent of Upper Colorado River Basin bird species are associated with riparian habitats.