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I, RECOVERY PRffiRAM FOR THE ENDANGERED HSHES rOF THE UPPER COIORAID , , ~.'-4;? . ..'." . Research Associate John Hawkins holds "Old Bessy," a 12-pound Colorado squawflsh captured May 24, 1988, on the Little Snake River. After the fish was examined, weighed and measured, It was released Into the water unharmed. ; i I I , I 1 , , i " Spring 1990 Recovery Program committee approves recommendations for water rights acquisition By Tom Pitts Upper Basin Water Users Representative Endangered FISh Recovery Program Loveland, Colo. Water rights may be acquired for endangered fish on the Vamps, Little Snake, Co]orado and White rivers following recommendations by the Recovery Program's Water Acquisition Subcommittee. These sections of river were given. priority for protection based on their importance in recovering the endangered fish and the potential for water development that could alter the habitat The recommendations were approved by the Recovery hnplementation Committee Feb. 21. About $32 million of the Recovery Program's estimated budget of $59.5 million is targeted for water rights acquisition. As much as $10 million could come from private sources. (These figures were developed in ]988 and are expected to rise with inflation.) Vampa River Land and associated water rights along a section of the Yampa River may be acquired between Cross Mountain and Dinosaur National Monument in northwest Colorado. The Nature Conservancy, an international organization that acquires real estate to protect the habitat of endangered plants and animals, is negotiating to buy Cross Mountain Ranch, which includes about 4,000 acre-feet of senior water rights. If successful, the Bureau of Land Management could acquire the property from the Conservancy. The water rights could then be made available to the Recovery Program and converted to in-stream (See WATER, Page 4.)