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(1.3) Manage habitat. The Team recognizes that it is difficult to manage woundfin habitat in the Virgin River because of land ownership patterns, water use patterns, water laws and watershed usage patterns outside the immediate vicinity of the Virgin River floodplain. (1.3I) Maximize public ownership. In order to effectively manage woundfin habitat, it is recommended that attempts be made to put into public ownership land immediately adjacent to the Virgin River and the associated water rights. Much of the riparian lands are now in agriculture. The woundfin appears able to survive existing agricultural practices including irrigation, chemical treatment, channeling, etc., at the present degree, but only because of their hardiness and a lack of demand on their remaining habitat. Without any controls on the remaining water and surrounding lands, public agencies will have little if any authority to join in planning future water and land development in the area, or to support the needs of the woundfin in these activities. Therefore, we recommend attempts be made to obtain lands and associated water rights along the Virgin River from the LaVerkin Power Plant to the Virgin River Gorge and from the mouth of the Gorge to the Riverside-Bunkerville bridge in Nevada. (1.32) Cooperative management agreements. All lands bordering the Virgin River which are now in public owner- ship and which can be shown to be necessary for proper management of woundfin habitat should be held in public trust for that purpose. In addition to the land acquisition program, an effort should be made to enter into cooperative agreements with landowners whose property borders the Virgin River. These agreements would essen- tially provide river access to management agencies and a degree of protection for the stream bank. Each agreement is estimated to cost around $500 to negotiate and the state fish and game agencies should be the party which enters into the agreements with the landowners. (1.33) Project comment and review. To help direct a habitat management program, it will be necessary to stay abreast of proposed projects in the watershed which might have an impact on woundfin habitat. The Team recommends a catalog be compiled listing all habitat modifying structures that now exist on the Virgin River and that it be updated yearly to include new and proposed projects. The catalog should be detailed and specify as clearly as possible the alterations or changes,in woundfin habitat caused by a proposed or existing project. The initial compilation of the catalog will cost $2,000 and should be completed within 6 months after initiation of the project. The initial compilation will be contracted and the annual update should be maintained. 19