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<br />states, conservation groups, and water users. Intense negotiations resulted in <br />the development of a "Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish <br />Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin" that was acceptable to all groups. <br />The recovery program is a milestone that coordinates federal, state, and <br />private actions to conserve the rare fish in a manner compatible with state's <br />water rights allocation systems and the various interstate compacts that guide <br />water allocation, development, and management in the upper basin. <br /> <br />Introduction <br /> <br />The Colorado River originates as clear, cold, headwater streams in the <br />Rocky and Uinta Mountains that supply the mainstems of the Colorado, Green and <br />other large tributaries. The mainstems flow through high deserts where <br />spectacular canyons have been carved by erosion of the soft sandstones. <br />Historically the mainstems were warm and turbid during the summer and <br />exhibited large changes in volume and velocity. Several unique large river <br />fishes evolved in the Colorado River system in response to the geology and <br />climate of the Great Basin, and the resulting riverine environment. The native <br />fish fauna of the Colorado River Basin is unique with an endemism of 74 percent <br />(Miller 1958) that is associated with a the long period of isolation. The <br />Colorado squawfish (Ptvchoceilus lucius), humpback chub (Gila ~), and <br />bony tail chub (Gila elegans)_are Federally listed as endangered and the <br />razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus) is extremely rare. The razorback sucker <br />has been suggested for listing by the Colorado River Fishes Recovery Team. <br /> <br />Settlement of the arid West that began over 100 years ago emphasized a <br /> <br />3 <br />