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seine. Abundant populations have been encountered in the Virgin-River near Mesquite, Nevada, the mouth of Beaver Dam Wash, Arizona, and near ~ the confluence of LaVerkin and Ash creeks, Utah. HABITAT DESTRUCTION From older records and reports, it is certain that woundfin lived as far up the Gila River system as the Salt River at Tempe, Arizona. It can be surmised that woundfin also lived in most reaches of the Salt and Gila rivers between Tempe and Yuma, Arizona, and in the Gila River above Phoenix and the .Salt and Verde rivers above Tempe. Today, six major dams on the Salt and Verde rivers and two on the Gila River have effectively cut off natural flows in the lower reaches of both rivers. Potential woundfin habitat may still exist in the Gila River above San Carlos Reservoir and the Verde River (tributary of the Salt River) above Horseshoe Reservoir. On the mainstream of the Colorado River, a series of dams and reservoirs beginning with the construction of Hoover Dam in the early 1930's has totally eliminated all-woundfin habitat. With the filling of Lake Mead, the lower end of the Virgin River and the Moapa River were also lost to woundfin. This, plus the habitat alterations caused by irrigation diver- sions and introduction of non-native species, has reduced the suitability of the remaining habitat. Woundfin populations are existing at reduced numbers from the irrigation diversion at Mesquite, Nevada, to Lake Mead and have been eliminated through the Virgin River Gorge as the river is intermittent at the locality because of irrigation diversions upstream. From 1 to 2 kilometers below the Washington-St. George Canal Company diversion, woundfin habitat is greatly diminished or non-existent during ~', peak irrigation periods (Fig. 2). Several proposed water projects on the Virgin .River and its associated springs may pose future problems for the woundfin. Each project should be evaluated separately for possible impacts on the species and/or its habitat. If a "jeopardy" situation is found, all efforts should be made to eliminate the impact. Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. requires all federal agencies to consult with the Fish and Wildlife Service if any activity they fund, authorize, or carry out may affect a listed species. Two consultations have already occurred, the first with BLM on the Allen- . Warner Valley Energy Project and the second with the Bureau of Reclamation .concerning the proposed LaVerkin Springs Desalination Project. The biological opinion for the Allen-Warner Valley consultation found the ~` project likely to jeopardize the woundfin and alter essential habitat. Minimum flows for the Virgin River below LaVerkin Springs were recommended to eliminate these impacts. The LaVerkin Springs biological opinion indicated the project would neither jeopardize the species nor alter its t