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~ Mr~ Edd1e Kochman 2 September 14, 1993, states the 1993 high flows were within 10-12 inches of communicating with the pond. The floodplain maps should help to resolve this question. If this pond is located within the 40-year floodplain, the Service recommends that no stocking of warm-water fish take place. The pond could be used as a put-and-take salmonid fishery or it could be closed to fishing as proposed in the Connected Lake EndanQered Soecies Fish Pond ManaQement Plan. If the pond is not closed to fishing, the potential for angling mortality of Colorado squawfish in the pond should be evaluated. Another option would be to explore reconnecting this site to the river as a seasonally-flooded backwater for use by the endangered fish. Connected lakes-large The Service would not be opposed to implementing the LMP for this pond. This pond seems fairly well protected from river floodflows and the Service agrees that, in all likelihood, it is out of the 40-year floodplain. Water exiting the outlet structure is screened by gravel, cobble, and geotextile filter cloth, greatly reducing or preventing escapement of larval and juvenile fishes. The outlet structure only discharges during spring runoff or major storm events. Corn lake Service concerns with the LMP for Corn lake are its position in the floodplain, the un screened outflow channel, and the potential for Aeromonas salmonicida nova to be present in the goldfish in the lake. The floodplain .elevation question will be resolved by reviewing the floodplain maps being developed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board. Corn Lake discharges to the river through an open channel with no impediments to fish escapement. Gambusia ~ were observed in the outflow channel immediately below the pond. The outflow channel should be modified to prevent escapement of juvenile and larval fishes to the river. The %"-mesh, flat-plate screen proposed in the Corn Lake LMP will not achieve that goal because the openings are too large and because screen clogging would result in flows overtopping the screen. Potential screening approaches were discussed during the site visit by ~ivision and Service biologists. Screening the outflow will minimize escapement of stocked fish and other fish species into the river. With the addition of adequate screening to the outflow and verification of the floodplain elevation of Corn Lake, Service concerns with this LMP will have been addressed. Elkhe~d Reservoir Elkhead Reservoir has a very high escapement potential due to annual uncontrolled spilling directly into Elkhead Creek, a tributary of the Yampa River. The Service's concern with stocking of largemouth bass in Elkhead Reservoir is the possibllity of movement of bass into the Green River. We agree that Yampa River habitat is less than ideal habitat for largemouth bass. However, transit of largemouth bass downstream to the Green River is highly likely as evidenced by the fact that northern pike from