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Introduction limiting factors, and relationships between life cycle and annual flow events of the four fish species in the Yampa River (Tyus and Karp, 1989). Using the biological information provided by this study, the Service developed interim flow recommendations for the Yampa River which were released in draft form in November of 1989 and in final form in March of 1990. As a result of discussions initiated in 1989 by the Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources ("DNR"), the Recovery Program began pursuing the acquisition of the Juniper Project water rights on the Yampa River with the objective of converting them to instream flow purposes in order to protect habitat for the endangered fish species. PREVIOUS BASIN STUDY As a result of discussions concerning the potential acquisition of the Juniper Project rights, the River District, Reclamation, and the Colorado Water Conservation Board ('Board") initiated a water resources planning study of the Yampa River basin. The Yampa River Basin Alternatives Feasibility Study ("Phase I Study") was carried out by Hydrosphere Resource Consultants, Inc. ("Hydrosphere") between January of 1990 and March of 1993. The specific objectives of that study were: 1) To evaluate current and future basin water needs and available supplies. 2) To identify alternative reservoir sites and operating strategies for the upper Yampa River basin which can meet the long term water supply and economic needs of the area, and which are compatible with the recovery of endangered Upper Colorado River Basin fishes. 3) To identify feasible alternative projects, based on water availability, geotechnical consideration, costs, recreational opportunities, water demands, environmental considerations, and instream flow needs, with considerable public and agency input. 4) To identify a recommended project, or projects, and prepare development plans for potential use of the Juniper Project water rights that include municipal, industrial, recreational, and environmental water uses, and instream flow uses for endangered fish species. The geographical scope of the Phase I Study was the Yampa River basin, with primary emphasis placed on that portion of the basin lying above the Little Snake River confluence. The final recommendations of the Phase I Study were to pursue in further detail the conversion of the Juniper Project water rights for instream flow use, to consider the enlargement of the existing Elkhead Reservoir as preferred alternative for meeting near-term water needs in the basin, and to consider the future enlargement of the existing Stagecoach Reservoir as the preferred means of meeting long-term water needs of the basin. The study concluded with a proposed schedule of future activities which began with a more detailed evaluation of the Elkhead Reservoir enlargement alternative and further evaluation of the water right and operational implications of providing instream flows for the endangered fishes. 1-2