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Little Snake River in Colorado and Wyoming that are necessary to recovery endangered fishes on the lower Little Snake and Yampa rivers will need to be legally protected. 3.3 DUCHESNE RIVER 3.3.1 Imoortance Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers regularly utilize the mouth of the Duchesne River especially during spring runoff. Fishery surveys conducted in 1993 documented the use of the lower 15 miles of the Duchesne River by Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers. 3.3.2 Recovery Actions Several studies will be funded by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District as part of its biological assessment of several proposed water projects being considered in the Duchesne River basin. These studies will involve evaluating the importance of the Duchesne River to the endangered fish, determining instream flow requirements in.the Duchesne River, and assessing the importance of the Duchesne River in meeting endangered fish flow needs in the Green River. These studies will be completed in 1995. 3.4 WHITE RIVER 3.4.1 Importance Adult Colorado squawfish occupy the White River below Taylor Draw dam near Rangely, Colorado in relatively high numbers. Adult Colorado squawfish which reside in the White River spawn on the Green and Yampa Rivers. Juvenile and subadult Colorado squawfish also utilize the White River on a year-round basis. Incidental captures of razorback suckers have been recorded on the lower White River. Construction of Taylor Draw dam in 1984 blocked Colorado squawfish migration to the upper portions of the White River. 3.4.2 Recovery Actions A management plan for the White River will be developed in 1994. This plan will synthesize current information about the endangered fish and provide recommendations for specific recovery actions, including the merits of providing fish passage at Taylor Draw dam. Interim flow recommendations are scheduled to be developed for the White River by 1996, and protection of those recommended flows by 1998. 16