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operating propagation facilities; propagating genetic stocks for research, information and education, and augmentation or restoration; and planning, implementing, and evaluating augmentation or restoration of genetic stocks in the wild. Stocking is only an interim tool in the Recovery Program since recovery, by definition, implies that the populations or stocks will be self-sustaining. The success of augmentation and restoration stocking is dependent on prior or concurrent implementation of other recovery actions such as flow protection, habitat restoration, and management of nonnative fishes. This dependency is reflected in the schedule of subbasin-specific actions in Section 4.0. Conducting studies to confirm presumed genetic stocks is vital to genetics management of the endangered fishes. Once identified, stocks may be protected in refugia to guard against catastrophe or to develop broodstocks. Representatives of stocks thought to be in immediate danger of extinction are brought into refugia immediately, rather than waiting until they have been confirmed as unique stocks through genetic studies. Refugia populations of genetic stocks are developed using a 5 x 5 matrix, that is, crossing each of 5 wild males with each of 5 wild females (where this is possible) to result in 25 unique half-sibling family lots for refugia. Most of this work is included under the General Recovery Program Support Action Plan, because it applies basinwide. Only subbasin-specific activities of augmenting or restoring genetic stocks are placed under the subbasin Action Plans, these are identified only when the Recovery Program already has firmly concluded that such action is required in a specific subbasin. As additional needs for augmentation or restoration are clearly identified, plans will be developed, fish produced, river reaches restored and augmented with those fish, and the results monitored and evaluated. Four basic documents are identified to plan, implement, and coordinate genetics management and artificial propagation for the endangered fishes. These are the Genetics Management Guidelines, Genetics Management Plan, Annual Propagation Operations Plan, and Coordinated Hatchery Facility Plan. The Genetics Management Guidelines document is the conceptual document. It provides the rationale, genetics concepts, and genetic risks to be considered in genetics management planning and implementation. For example, it indicates that a fish population is the fundamental unit of genetics management and that its definition and characterization, relative to other populations, are important. Genetic surveys are part of the identification and characterization process. Further, the prioritization and genetics management required for each population is determined by its relative population status, demographic trends, and genetics data derived from the surveys. Finally, the document suggests practical activities, methods, and options to incorporate into an operational plan, i.e., capture 10 wild adults from the Yampa river razorback sucker population and breed them using a pedigree mating strategy and rear family lots separately to maintain genetic variability and integrity. 10