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Experimental removal of northern pike from the Yampa River Northern pike have expanded their range from the Yampa River to upper sections of the Green River - areas that are critical nursery habitat for young Colorado squawfish. rn a Utah State University study on the Green River, researchers documented that young squawfish constituted 5 percent of the diet of northern pike, even though squawfish made up a much smaller portion of the available food base in the river. The researchers estimated that a single northern pike could consume 100 or more squawfish per year. Also, northern pike are known to prey on native roundtail chub and may also feed on humpback chubs in the Yampa River. The Yampa River is one of the last truly "wild" rivers in the West and provides some of the best remaining native fish habitat in the entire Colorado River basin. Ensuring continued availability of this habitat is crucial. In June 1995, the Management Committee decided to postpone any northern pike removal to allow for public involvement and completion of a strategic plan for controlling non-native fish throughout the upper Colorado River Basin. Action: Draft strategic plan for controlling non-native fish in the upper Colorado River Basin to be completed. April 30, 1996. Date: Action: Date: Final strategic plan for controlling non-native fish in the upper Colorado River basin to be completed. Aug, 30, 1996. Questions? Please call Henry Maddux at (970) 245-3920, ext. 29. Long-term funding and legislation rn October 1994, the Recovery Program's rmplementation Committee formed an ad hoc committee to address long-term funding for the upper Colorado River and San Juan River endangered fish recovery programs. Participants in these discussions have included the Bureau of Reclamation; the states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico; several Indian tribes; water, power and environmental groups; staff from the House Resources Committee; and representatives of several members of the Colorado and Utah Congressional delegations. A bill has been drafted and will be available for public review and comment in April 1996. It is anticipated that the bill will be introduced in Congress in the summer of 1996, However, the bill would not be expected to pass Congress until fiscal year 1997. The bill will provide specific authorization for the Secretary of the Interior to implement the upper basin and San Juan River recovery programs through the year 2003 and 2007, respectively, establishes a cost ceiling of $82 million for the Upper Basin Recovery Program and $22 million for the San Juan River Recovery Program. Fifty percent of the cost would 13