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. . . Chuck Lile Page 2 November 14, 1996 NON-NATIVE FISH STOCKING PROCEDURES The Wildlife Commission did approve the Non-Native Fish Stocking Procedures for the upper Colorado River basin at their September meeting in Grand Junction. Since that time the Division has hired a biologist (Anita Martinez) who will be stationed in Grand Junction. It will be Anita's job to implement the conditions in the Procedures. The Division is continuing in its efforts to reclaim two ponds that pose a threat to non-native fish escapement REMOVAL OF NON-NATIVE FISH BAG LIMITS At the January 1997 meeting, the Wildlife Commission will consider final approval of a regulation change that removes the bag limits on 10 warrnwater sport fish species that may be found in critical habitat reaches ofthe Colorado; Green; Gunnison; Little Snake; White; and Yampa rivers. IN STREAM FLOW ACTIVITIES The Division Habitat staff and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) staff combined to complete two extensive instream flow quantification efforts. The first was in the upper San Miguel River basin where several local entities requested a comprehensive instream flow quantification study in the Telluride area. The second effort involved a cooperative venture by the Division, the CWCB, and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). In an effort to resolve conflicts with water users in the Arkansas River basin over federal reserved water rights claims by the USFS, state and federal biologists and hydrologists worked against the winter weather clock to quantify the instream flow requirements on several streams that are key to the settlement negotiations between state and federal interests. The Division also was heavily involved in quantifying the instream flow requirements on several streams of importance to our sibling agency, the Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation. This effort will continue for the next three years. In September, the Colorado 319 Task Force approved a grant application to restore the channel and instream habitat in the Rio Blanco near Pagosa Springs. The Rio Blanco has been impacted by diversions by the Bureau of Reclamation. Low stream flows, high instream temperatures, low dissolved oxygen, and increased sediment loads have all impacted the Rio Blanco over the past several decades. The demonstration project will test the applicability of restoration techniques to mitigate the water quality problems that are caused by the water diversions. The Division's involvement will be in the monitoring and evaluation phases of the project. NATIVE COLORADO FISHES STATUS For the last three years aquatic biologists have been conducting inventory studies of native fishes in Colorado. A summary table produced by Tom Nesler is attached giving the