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. . 4. Discussion The Yampa River currently supports a viable population of Colorado squawfish that is a critically important component of the entire Green River basin Colorado squawfish population. Colorado squawfish that are spawned in the Yampa River are reared in the Green River. Juvenile squawfish are believed to move to the lower reaches of the Green River and eventually return to the Yampa River as adult/subadult fish (Tyus et al. 1987). The Yampa River also supports a reproducing population of humpback chub, is frequented on a regular basis by razorback sucker, and has been identified as a high priority area for reestablishing a bony tail chub population. The Little Snake River, a tributary of the Yampa River, contributes significantly to the flow and sediment supplies in the Yampa River. It supplies approximately 80 % of the sediment supply to the Yampa River at the Deerlodge Park gaging station which is 5.5 miles below the confluence of the Little Snake River (O'Brien, 1987). O'Brien (1987) concluded that the Yampa River is currently adjusted or configured to transport the sediment yield of the basin from the watershed. The Little Snake River also contributes about 27 % of the flows to the Yampa River (Andrews 1986), mostly in the form of spring runoff. Peak spring flows may be important for maintaining channel equilibrium, providing substrate flushing flows which may be important to Colorado squawfish spawning, and contributing to the formation of flooded backwaters along the Yampa River, which are important habitats for Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers (Tyus et al, 1987). Further study should be undertaken to quantify the relationship between the flow and sediment supply of the Little Snake River and the maintenance of habitat conditions on the Yampa River. An evaluation of water rights and strategies for protecting flow and sediment supply in the Little Snake River should be conducted if these studies demonstrate that the Little Snake River is important to the maintenance of the rare Colorado River fishes that inhabit the Yampa River. Prioritv 2(a) White River (Colorado and Utah) RM 0-156 1. Biological Significance of the Reach Colorado Sauawfish - The White River is an integral part of the habitat and life history of Colorado squawfish found in the Green River basin. No Colorado squawfish spawning has been documented in the White River. However, adult Colorado squawfish which occupy the reach in relatively high numbers, migrate from the White River to spawning grounds on the Yampa and Green rivers. The White River apparently serves as a major holding area for adult fish during the nonspawning season and is important habitat for juvenile and subadult fish on a year-round basis. The Biology Subcommittee has assigned the following designations to the White River: -adult distribution (RM 0-156) - Taylor Draw Reservoir has effectively reduced the range to RM 109. -adult high concentration area (RM 0- 21) - an aggregation of adult fish has also been observed below Taylor Draw dam in the late summer. 5