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INTRODUCTION The Interagency Standardized Monitoring Program (ISMP) began in 1986 during the coordination process that ultimately resulted in the Recovery Program for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin. ISMP targeted species and reaches where considerable information was already available. Species or river reaches with less available data were not included because it was felt that the necessary work in those reaches or with other species should be oriented towards research, and therefore should be more flexible than ISMP. However, provisions for adding additional species or river reaches to ISMP as more information becomes available are part of the program. As originally designed, ISMP targeted young-of--year (YOY) Colorado squawfish, subadult and adult Colorado squawfish, and adult humpback chub. However, information on other rare or introduced species was collected when they were encountered. ISMP was developed jointly by representatives from the states of Utah and Colorado, Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), Bureau of Reclamation (Bureau), and Water Development interests composing the Biological Subcommittee of the Upper Colorado River Basin Coordinating Committee. Sampling areas were based on the Sensitive Areas Document (Biological Subcommittee 1984), which summarized river reaches important to the endangered fishes. Designation of these important reaches was based on distribution and abundance data collected by earlier investigators (e.g., Wick et al. 1981, 1985a, 1985b, 1986; Tyus et al. 1982; Valdez et al. 1982; Archer et al. 1985). After the basic framework was developed by the Biological Subcommittee, field biologists from the involved agencies developed a detailed sampling protocol. The states of Utah and Colorado were given primary responsibility for sampling reaches within their borders. The Service and Bureau would provide support (equipment and manpower) when necessary. Specific equipment lists, as well as sampling techniques and schedules, were developed to ensure that data collected were comparable among rivers and years. Because consistent data collection over the course of a monitoring program is critical (e.g. Ney 1993), the Monitoring Program Handbook (USFWS 1987) was developed to document the sampling protocol in considerable detail. The handbook ensures that sampling techniques remain the same even though investigators may change as the program progresses. Standard data forms, encoding instructions, and a database management system were also provided to ISMP participants to facilitate data computerization and analysis (McAda 1987). Data collected during ISMP have been presented in a variety of reports, usually delineated by regional or state boundaries or by species and life history category. An annual summary has been produced each year since the program began (USFWS et.al 1987-1991), but data interpretation and discussion have been limited in these summaries. McAda and Kaeding (1989a), Osmundson and Kaeding (1991), and Valdez and Cowdell (1992, 1993) summarized various portions of the YOY Colorado squawfish data relative to variation in reproductive success or overwinter survival. In Utah, Bates et al. (1993) presented YOY and subadult-adult Colorado squawfish monitoring data for the lower Green and Colorado rivers through 1990, and Cranney (1990) did the same for the lower White and upper Green rivers. Nesler (1992) summarized the same data for the upper Colorado, upper White, and Yampa rivers in Colorado. McAda (1993) summarized the 1989-1991 YOY Colorado squawfish data in relation to backwater number and surface area as measured by aerial video. This document describes all data (YOY Colorado squawfish, subadult-adult Colorado squawfish, and adult humpback chub) collected by both Utah and Colorado in all reaches sampled by ISMP since its beginning in 1986. It also presents and discusses several options for modifying the current sampling design to increase the amount and quality of data collected through ISMP.