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186 VALDEZ AND MUTH lated because of inadequate laws (Baxter and Simon 1970; U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1982b). Re- cently, these activities have been regulated and new provisions implemented to protect the species. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department stopped issu- ing permits to seine dace for bait in the 1960s. The USFS has identified 158 acres as the Kendall Warm Springs Biological Management Unit. This area was fenced to prevent cattle access and the springs are closed to wading, bathing, and the use of soap or detergents. Vehicle access has also been blocked along the stream (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1982 b). Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Conservation Agreement and Strategy A conservation agreement (Agreement) was devel- oped for the Colorado River cutthroat trout in 1999 by Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah; the USFS; BLM; and USFWS (CRCTTaskForce2001). This Agree- ment was developed to expedite implementation of conservation measures for the Colorado River cut- throat trout in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming as a collaborative and cooperative effort. Funding for the Agreement is provided by a variety of sources, in- cluding federal, state, and local. Threats that war- rant listing of Colorado River cutthroat trout as a state special status species could lead to listing un- der the ESA, and will be eliminated or reduced through implementation of this Agreement and a related conservation strategy (Strategy). The goals of this Agreement are to: 1. Rehabilitate Colorado River cutthroat trout throughout its historic range byes- tablishing two self-sustaining meta popu- lations, each consisting of five separate, vi- able but interconnected subpopulations, in each Geographic Management Unit (GMU) within the historic range. The short-term goal is to establish one meta- population in each GMU; 2. Maintain areas that currently support abundant Colorado River cutthroat trout and manage other areas for increased abundance; 3. Maintain the genetic diversity of the spe- cies; and 4. Increase the distribution of Colorado River cutthroat trout, where ecologically, socio- logically, and economically feasible. Objectives of the Agreement are: 1. Maintain and restore 383 conservation populations in 2,822 km (1,754 stream miles) and 18 populations in 264 ha (652 lake acres) in 15 GMUs within historic range; and 2. Eliminate or reduce threats to Colorado River cutthroat trout and its habitat to the greatest extent possible. The Agreement is administered by a Coordi- nation Team, that consists of one designated repre- sentative from each signatory and may include tech- nical and legal advisors and others as deemed neces- sary by the signatories. A total of 10 years is antici- pated for completion of all actions described in the Strategy. Conservation actions are scheduled and re- viewed annually by the signatory agencies based on recommendations from the Coordination Team. Aquatic biologists have initially selected a to- tal of 126 streams and lakes in Colorado, 52 in Utah, and 223 in Wyoming for protection, resto- ration, or conservation planning. A total of26 strat- egies within the conservation strategy address threats identified under each of the five listing fac- tors from Section 4 of the ESA. Stream habitat protection and enhancement by the USFS and BLM have greatly increased opportunities to re- cover the Colorado River cutthroat trout in many historic streams. This has led to increased stream surveys and genetic testing to better define genetic purity of existing stocks. The long-term objectives set in 1998 (i.e., 2,822 stream km of Colorado River cutthroat trout con- servation populations; 523 Colorado, 864 Utah, and 1,437 Wyoming) were exceeded in 2003 in Colorado, but not in Wyoming. Utah exceeded objectives for all GMUs except one. The number of Colorado River cutthroat trout conservation populations increased by 49% from 843 stream km (161 waters) and 243 lake ha (12 waters) in 1998 to 1,648 km and 455 ha in 2003. These increases were due primarily to restoration efforts (160 km) and genetic results identifYing pure populations.