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already tenuous hold on survival, its possible loss will have little impact on the successfully reproducing Green and Colorado River squawfish populations an-d therefore on the species itself." The opinion also concluded -thai-consfruction of the Animas-LaPlata Project would further change the San Juan River to a point where the Colorado squawfish population in the river would likely be lost. The Animas-LaPlatla biological opinion also recommended that USBR conduct a thorough survey of the native fishes in the San Juan River. These studies were initiated by the States of Utah and New Mexico in 1987 under ~ - contract with USBR. Some salient findings of these studies (Platania and Young 1990) are: 1. Colorado squawfish were collected from the San Juan River at several locations --- Shiprock, New Mexico and Lake Powell, Utah. 2. Successful reproduction of Colorado squawfish was confirmed in 1987 and 1988 by the capture of 18 young-of-year fish. 3. Suitable Colorado squawfish habitat appeared present throughout the San Juan River and this species appeared to occupy the river on a year-round basis. As a result of these findings, USBR reinitiated Section 7 consultation on the Animas-LaPlata Project in ,early 1990. Based on the results of the San Juan River fishery surveys and the belief that Colorado squawfish populations were not stable or showing signs of decline in other parts of the upper basin, the USFWS issued a draft biological opinion in May 1990 that concluded that the Animas-LaPlata Project was likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Colorado squawfish. Furthermore, the USFWS concluded that no reasonable or prudent alternatives were available to avoid jeopardy to the squawfish and recommended additional fisheries studies be made to develop a