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I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I Water development and endangered fISh recovery The purpose of this program is to recover endangered fish while also providing for future water development for human use. To help accomplish this, Recovery Program managers have developed an agreement clarifying how the Fish and Wildlife Service will apply section 7 of the Endangered Species Act to water development projects in the upper Colorado River basin. (This section of the act requires federal agencies to consult with the Service on actions that are likely to jeopardize the continued existence of endangered or threatened species or result in destruction or adverse modification of their critical habitat.) Under this agreement, as long as sufficient progress is being made toward endangered fish recovery, the Service will issue favorable biological opinions on water depletions of fewer than 1,500 acre-feet of water. Economic issues Because of progress made in the Upper Colorado River Recovery .Program, city governments, developers, farmers and oil companies have been able to complete some 400 water projects, providing more than 225,000 acre-feet of water for human use and local economic development, while still complying with the Endangered Species Act. Location The Colorado River and its tributaries make up one of the world's most colorful river basins. From the high mountains of Wyoming and Colorado, the river drops more than two miles in elevation on its 1, 700-mile journey to the Gulf of California. For long stretches, the river is bounded by red canyon walls. River flows fluctuate widely from season to season and from year to year. For example, historic flows at Yuma, Ariz., ranged from a few thousand cubic feet per second to nearly 400,000. States and rivers included in the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program I The Upper Colorado River Recovery Program is directed at the upper Colorado River basin, which is upstream of Lake Powell in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. Major rivers included are the Colorado,'Gunnison, Dolores, White, Yampa, Little Snake, Green, Duchesne, Price and San Rafael. The San Juan River Basin and rivers in the lower Colorado River basin are not included in this particular program, although there are separate recovery efforts for both areas. Actions being taken to recover endangered Colorado River fISh Recovery Program-sponsored research has indicated that river conditions must be suitable for endangered fish reproduction and survival. Based on their findings, biologists are working to improve the river habitat and provide adequate stream flows at the right times of year. They also are taking steps to manage the impact of non-native fish that compete with endangered fish for food and space. In cases'where the number of endangered fish has severely dwindled, biologists are raising endangered fish in hatcheries and are stocking them in the wild.