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INTRODUCTION The activities described in this report were undertaken in r June of 1979 in accordance with Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) No. 9-06-40-L-1016 between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the Bureau of Reclamation (BR). Additional funds were provided by the Boreaq • of Land Management (BLM) during 1980 and 1981 to address special concerns peculiar to their land management responsibilities including the White River. This report is also intended to partially fulfill specifications of MOU No. CO-910-MU9-933 under which those funds were committed. Fisheries investigations in the Upper Basin were further expanded during 1981 through agreements with the National Park Service and special appropriations directly from Congress. This expansion extended investi- gations into Dinosaur National Monument and the Yampa River above the monument. Subjects MOU's prescribed a comprehensive investigation of all facets of the life histories of the Colorado squawfish Ptychocheilus lucius, humpback chub Gila cypha and the bonytail chub Gila elegans; species listed as endangered under the National Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, and the razorback sucker Xyrauchen texanus, recognized as rare by most investigators acquainted with the Colorado River's aquatic fauna. The technical reports describing the specific research conducted under this program are contained in Parts 2 and 3 of this three-part report. BR and FWS undertook this study to acquire needed biological infor- mation on the endangered Colorado River fishes so both agencies could meet their requirements under the ESA, including the amendments of 1978. BR entered into the study agreement to acquire data because it is opera- ting'and developing water resource projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin which have and will affect and alter the physical and aquatic environment of the Colorado River. FWS entered into this agreement because data were urgently needed on these endangered fishes in order to render Biological Opinions under Section 7 of ESA and to provide BR with impact analyses and recommendations concerning BR operating and proposed projects. The primary objective of this study was to acquire the needed information so both agencies could work together to ensure survival and recovery of the endangered Colorado River fishes in their native ecosystems. r Scope of Study • The MOU between FWS and BR contained a sizeable list of biological studies needed for the four target species. Broad areas of investigation of the four target species included: spawning requirements; young and adult habitat requirements; migratory behavior; interspecific competi- tion; predation and food habits; temperature, salinity, and chemical effects; cultural technologies; disease and parasite diagnostics; and taxonomic classification.