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. ~ an endangered or threatened species is arrested or reversed, and threats to its survival are neutralized, so the long-term survival in nature can be assured. The goal of this process is the maintenance of secure self-sustaining wild populations of the species. A "self sustaining population" is a group of individuals in a species which maintain their numbers over the long term via natural reproduction and recruitment, i.e., all life cycles events occur in the natural environment unassisted by human intervention. 2. Acquisition of water rights to protect the instream flow needs of the endangered fishes is critical to achieving a primary objective of the Recovery Program which is "to protect and manage sufficient habitat to support self- sustaining populations." Water (instream flows) provided in the right location, volume, and time of the year is the key to providing habitat and ensuring that the endangered fish can sustain themselves in the wild. To illustrate the importance of this recovery element, over 50 percent of the Recovery Program's $60 million, 15 year budget is directed towards water acquisition and instream flow protection. Currently, water acquisition and instream flow protection activities are focused on the Yampa River, the 15-m.ile reach of the Colorado River near Grand Junction, Colorado. In addition, it is anticipated that the instream flow needs of the endangered fishes in the Green River, the Gunnison River, and the Colorado River below Grand Junction will be provided from water out of Flaming Gorge Reservoir and the Aspinall Untt. Because of the critical importance of providing instream flows for the endangered fishes, acquisition of water rights and protection of instream flows is currently evaluated by the Service in its review of large water depletion projects under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. 2. "Stocking of Native fishes" is also a major recovery element in the Recovery Pi u~!.r.\:n, The Recovery Program recognizes that some of the native fishes are threatened with extinction and/or not reproducing naturally in the wild. The Program calls for reintroduction of boovtai.s and indicates that "consideration will be given to supplementing existing populations of the razorback, humpback, and squawfish where studies conclude that it would help promote self-sustaining populat.ions." The follOWing stipUlations were included in the Recovery Program to protect the integrity of the wild populations: o research pertaining to reintroduction of hatchery reared fishes will not be conducted in confirmed spawning areas, and o extreme caution will be used to protect the genetic integrity of wild populations when introducing hatchery reared fish i.nto the various sub- basins. The Recovery Program considers stocking as an important tool to helping achieve self-sustaining populations--but not as a solution to recovery by itse lf . To assist in implementing this element of t.he Recovery Program, the Service has developed a Propagation and Genetic Management Plan for the endangered fishes. Under this plan, emphasis is being placed on: