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They are working with the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program (Recovery Program) to determine if efforts to manage northern pike and smallmouth bass will reduce their predation . on endangered and other native fishes. These nonnative fish species pose one of the primary threats to the recovery of the endangered humpback chub, bonytail, Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. On April 24, it was announced that smallmouth bass removal will occur in 39 of 90 river miles between Craig and Dinosaur National Monument. This represents an increase of 22 river miles over last year. The additional miles are needed to isolate a section of river where researchers can conduct a study to determine if mechanical removal can be an effective tool to manage the abundance of smallmouth bass. Removal attempts to do this last year were hampered by large numbers of smallmouth bass moving into the study area from upstream. The extra river miles should provide a 'buffer zone' that will prevent that from happening this year. Smallmouth bass that are 10 inches or greater in length will be removed from the Yampa River and relocated to local ponds or reservoirs to provide fishing opportunities. Northern pike removal in the Yampa River will also take place. Some fish will be collected for a CDOW stable isotope study to determine their origin. Most fish will be relocated to Yampa State Wildlife Area and Loudy-Simpson ponds near Hayden and Craig. The CDOW and the Recovery Program are making plans to host a meeting in the Craig area in late July or early August to present an update to the community about the Recovery Program and to answer questions. The Yampa River is considered one of the most important tributaries in the Upper Colorado River Basin for recovery of the four endangered fish species. This is primarily due to its relatively unaltered patterns of seasonal flows and habitat which are important to the endangered fishes' life cycle. In addition to providing habitat, the Yampa River delivers flows and sediment downstream to the Green River, helping to maintain a river system with hundreds of miles of critical habitat. . A third nonnative fish species -- channel catfish .- also poses a serious threat to the endangered Colorado River fishes and has been the subject of past research. In 2003. capture methods proved inadequate for effective removal in most areas and expanding smallmouth bass populations were considered a greater threat. As a result, channel catfish research will occur only in Yampa Canyon where effective removal has been demonstrated. Three of the Recovery Program's partners - the states of Colorado and Utah and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - will conduct this year's work. Biologists from Colorado State University will also participate. Efforts will expand from last year to include additional river sections, work crews and removal trips. From mid-March through September. biologists will work in 740 miles of the Colorado, White, Yampa, Green and Duschesne rivers in the states of Colorado and Utah. Depending on the river reach, they will target smallmouth bass and/or northern pike for removal and relocation to area fishing ponds wherever appropriate and practical. Ageney Updates DI Minimis Report - please see the table in the Attachments. Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Program - Summary of Resolved Cases: The Board's ISF Rule 8i. states that: "In the event the pretrial resolution includes terms and conditions preventing injury or interference and does not involve a modification, or acceptance of injury or interference with mitigation, the Board is not . 28