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60 f. Owens chub, Gila bicolor sn deri. Habitat conditions remain unchanged for the Owens chub, but more life history information is needed to allow for the preservation of the subspecies. California Fish and Game plans to hire a graduate student to conduct a life history study in its only remaining natural habitat - the Owens River Gorge below Crowley Reservoir - during 1978. g. Owens dace, Rhinichthyys osculus subsp. The subspecies is fairly numerous and widespread in tributaries to the Owens River in northern Inyo County, with no immediate threat to its existence. Status apparently unchanged from last year. h. Rhinichthys osculus subsp., Amargosa R. near Beatty, Nevada and i. Rhinichthys osculus subsp., Amargosa Gorge, below Tecopa. Although no apparent differences exist between these two subspecies, Dr. Deacon feels the Beatty population may be distinct and recommends that further work be done here. "Gail Kobetich reported good numbers of dace in the Beatty area despite heavy rains and floods in recent weeks. There have been no known changes in the habitat near Tecopa, so we assume a stable population there. Efforts will be made to locate a graduate student interested in pursuing a study of the Amargosa River and its dace populations. j. Mohave chub, Gila bicolor mohavensis. The primary habitat, Fort Soda, needs maintenance and weed removal. Also badly needed are the installation of an aeration system and implementation of the management plan agreed upon at the July 1, 1977 meeting. Hopefully, BIM will provide the necessary financing and motivation for this to occur. Without it, a good chance exists that the entire population will be lost through inadequate oxygen as temperatures and weed growths increase. Such an occurrence would virtually render the subspecies extinct. k. Owens pupfish, Cyprinodon radiosus. During the summer of 1977, the 200 remaining acres of privately held land in Fish Slough located near the Owens Valley Native Fish Sanctuary changed hands, and the new owner is anxious to begin raising alfalfa there. BIM, although extremely short of help in the Bishop area office, is attempting to negotiate a land exchange. To assist in this respect, Roger Samuelsen, of the University of California's Natural Land and Water Reserves System, has arranged with Dr. Ken Norris, of U.C. Santa Cruz, to provide student assistance in performing the evaluation work which must precede the exchange. Hopefully, this work will begin in the near future and the landowner will respect a resolution from the Land and Water Reserves Committee not to disrupt the Fish Slough ecosystem by initiating a land development project. If all else fails, eminent domain procedures will be implemented by the Fish and Wildlife Service. Funds are available for purchase of the land.