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.,.. . Elimifl.1ling politics (public ue:':lo1nd?) and funding constraints from rccov('l"),' tl:"am gujd~lincs nLIY not ~ct:m rl!L1listic. but it is necessary to achieve the needed biological basis upon ~hich r~covcry pl.:lns must be founded. Through recovery plans the Fish and Wildlife Service .:lnd other partjcip.:lting agencies lc."1rn \.'h.:lt must be done to save a species; imple- mentation, incorporating funding .:lnd politics. is the joint obligation of these agencies. At present there are 11 r~covery teams working on listed fish ~pecies in the western United States. Teams working exclusively on one species include: Woundfin (rlagopterus Dr~cntissimus), Arizona trout (Salm~ E.E.3che), Gila trout (S.1lrno gilac) , greenback cutthroat trout (Salmo cl~rkistomias), Cui-Iii (Chasrnistes cuius). unarmored three-spine stickl~b.:lck (Gasterosterus Dculeatus williamsoni), Devil's Hole pupfish (fy..E!.inodon d i.:l.bolis), \~arm Springs pupf ish (Cvpr inodon nevadensis pectoralis), and Pahrump killifish (Empetrichthvs l~tos). At this time, a completed recovery pl.:ln is available for dnly the Warm Springs pupfish, but draft recovery plans, some awaiting only final signature, are circulating for all of the above species except the Devil 's Hol~ pupfish. Implementation of the ~'!arm Springs pupfish plan is nearly complete, and several other plans are partially impleoented. even before the final signature. . Anew innovation in recovery team organization is their formation around ecosystems rather than individual species. \~e presently have one team functioning for the Colorado River Fishes and another is being formed for the Rio Grande Fishes. The Colorado River Fishes Recovery Team has completed a draft recovery plan for the Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus lucius), and is beginning work on the humpback chub (Gila .9'pha). If listed, this team will also develop recovery plans for the bony-tail chub (Gila elcgans) and razorback sucker (Xvrauchen texanus). The Rio Grande Fishes Recovery Team will begin working on recovery plans for: Big Bend gambusia (Ga~busia gaigei) Pecos gambusia (Gambusia nobilis), Clear Creek gambusia (G,:llnhusia hetercchir), and Commanche Springs pupfish (Cvorinodon elcgans). In addition, the following species will be included under this team if the listing process is completed: Amistad gambusia (Ganbusia amistade~sis), San Marcos gambusia (Gambusia georgei), Leon ~prings pupfish (Cvprincdon bovinus). Devil's River minnow (Dionda diaboli) and bluntnose minnow (~otropis simus). Conclusion The Fish and Wildlife Service has b~en charged with conserving native fish, wildlife and plants amidst man's continuous attempl~ to _ alter the environment. Several methods are presently being utilJ..zed to- prevent species extinctions .:lnd maintain the habitat necessary for their continued existence. To date the vchic]es of listing, critical habitats, and recovery plans seeo to be successfully carrying out the Federal End~ng~r~d Species Program mission. Awakening interest in nongame speci~s is also increasing in State and other Federal agencies too. Howev~r, the limitations of the Endangered Species Act. as well-as its assets, should be recoGniz~d. Principally, the Act is reducing habitat destruction caused by Federal pr~gra~s and projects in those specific habitats eS5ential to-the survival of listed species. Management recovery pl~ns prcsently being produced by the recovery teams are shifting the future ernph3sis of thi5 program to positivc recovery programs for listed spccic~. 301