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II ELKHEAD RESERVOIR The management plan indicates that largemouth bass are already present in the reservoir; but, the justification section provides no reason why stocking is needed or appropriate. This plan should include some discussion that shows why natural reproduction is inadequate (limited habitat?) and why stocking is the best way to increase bass numbers (predation of naturally recruited bass fry prevents them from reaching adult size?). The plan references local demand for bass fishing. If scientifically based demand information is available, it should be included along with present use patterns. If this information is not available, the basis for determining local demand should be presented and the approximate level or intensity of this demand (and anticipated future demand) should be identified. This plan indicates that escapement potential is high and survival potential in downstream lotic environments is low. While we believe this conclusion is reasonable, more documentation of survival potential is needed. Specifically, how do Yampa River habitat characteristics compare with other rivers where largemouth bass are found as well as places where this species does not do well? An overall review of the potential for largemouth bass survival is recommended. If the information described in this plan is accurate, the stocking guidelines should be revised to permit stocking of largemouth bass on a routine basis as part of Table 1. HARVEY GAP RESERVOIR Primary concerns with this plan deal mostly with the Management strategy section. Specifically, the document does not list the species of most interest in the mixed recreational fishery. This section also indicates a desire to "evaluate for tiger muskie stOCking". No indication is provided of how this reservoir or its fishing public will be evaluated for this management action. Neither does this section or any other provide a basis establishing the need for this fishery or identifying how many tiger muskies would be stocked. Because tiger muskies are very efficient predators and because of past and present impacts associated with northern pike, we sugg~st dropping the possibility ofst-ocking this.species until a better justification for considering it is presented and more is known of its potential to establish in a riverine environment. Section V.;B. of this pla~is unacceptable since it makes no recognition of a need to possibly deal with escaped tiger muskies (if this species is stocked). This section should be expanded to deal with this concern. Further, as with all other plans which include channel catfish, this plan should acknowledge that if channel catfish