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some of the important life history events of the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, and razorback sucker (Figure 3) (Tyus and Carp 1989). The Service's flow recommendations for the endangered fish have not been readily accepted by State agencies as technically adequate for appropriating, acquiring, and/or legally protecting the instream flow needs of the fish. One concern is that the flow recommendations have been based on empirical data and professional judgment rather than analytical habitat models. In addition, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (Conservation Board), which is responsible for review, approval, and subsequent appropriation of instream flow water rights in Colorado, believes the Service's recommendations and approach will not allow for a determination of the "minimum" flow needed to recover the species, or what the impact would be on the fish if flows less than the recommended amounts were appropriated. In addition, Reclamation and the Western Area Power Administration have expressed concern that the Service's flow recommendations for the Green River, especially for the spring and winter period, are not biologically defensible and need further refinement. Several actions have been taken through the Recovery Program to resolve the disagreement over the Service flow recommendations and methodologies. First, Dr. Jack Stanford, a noted aquatic ecologist from the University of Montana, has been retained to: (a) complete a comprehensive review of past and ongoing instream flow activities, methods, and knowledge related to the quantification of the instream flows needed for recovery of the four endangered fish species in the upper Colorado River and Green River subbasins; (b) identify technical and nontechnical issues related to the instream flow activities and the Service's instream flow recommendations; and (c) develop an action plan and provide recommendations to resolve the technical issues related to quantifying the instream flow needs of the endangered fish. Dr. Stanford's review, which will be complete in July 1993, will be overseen by the Instream Flow Subcommittee of the Recovery Program. Second, an additional 5 years of research will be conducted to refine and validate the winter and spring flow recommendations for the Green River contained in the Service's biological opinion on the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam. Reoperation of Federal Reservoirs The reoperation of Federal reservoirs to provide instream flows for the endangered fish is an important element of the Recovery 7