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. . . . 1 River, four in the White River, and seven in the Yampa River basins) are targeted for restoration. Forty-four waters will be studied for potential reintroduction sites. Owens' Administration Supports Funding for Endangered Fish Recovery Program: On April 6, Governor Owens sent a letter (copy attached) to Senator Allard asking him to again sponsor legislation to provide the authorization the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation needs to build capital projects in the Upper Colorado and San Juan river basins designed to recover the four endangered (and federally protected) fish species. Governor Owens noted that Colorado has a huge stake in these Recovery Programs and that water users were unconditionally endorsing the introduction and swift passage of the revised legislation. On April 12, Greg Walcher also sent letters to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees supporting funds for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. These letters were similar to the Governor's and specifically supported $624,000 of resource management funds for the V,S, Fish and Wildlife Service, $297,700 for "base funding" activities (fisheries activity; hatchery operations and maintenance sub-activity), and $934 million for Reclamation construction activities associated with the Program, Copies of Greg's letters can be provided upon request. No sooner were these letters of support submitted than we learned that Reclamation has unilaterally decided to reallocate the requested funds for other endangered species within its Upper Colorado Region. Damage to the Recovery Program or its schedule for implementing recovery actions has not been assessed at this point, but we will keep an eye on this and try to limit the impact. Flaming Gorge Spring Operations Public Meeting: Reclamation held a meeting of the Flaming Gorge Operations Working Group to discuss the operation and release patterns for Flaming Gorge Dam during the 1999 spring and summer seasons on May Bin Vernal, Utah. Members of the working group include the Fish and Wildlife Service, Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration, forest Service, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, other state agency representation, local interest groups, representatives of local water user groups, and local land owner groups. Price-Stubb Diversion Dam Fish Passage: Reclamation has released a draft environmental assessment (EA) for fish passage at the Price-Stubb DiversionDam on the Colorado River near Palisade, Colorado, fish passage would restore access to historic upstream habitat for the endangered razorback sucker and Colorado pikeminnow, The assessment is available for public review and comment through June 15, 1999. Our staff is reviewing the draft EA. In 1911, the Palisade and Mesa County Irrigation Districts constructed the 8- foot -high dam to divert irrigation water. The dam was abandoned in 1919 when Reclamation completed the Grand Valley Project. Fish passage alternatives include partially removing the dam or constructing a fish ladder around the dam. Removing the dam is Reclamation's preferred alternative. Removal could affect the Ute Water Conservancy District's backup water supply that serves about 60,000 Grand Valley residents. Removal also conflicts with a private developer's plans to build a hydroelectric power plant at the dam, The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is also collecting comments on its draft EA to amend a hydropower license issued in 1990, IfFERC approves the amendment, Reclamation would build a fish ladder around the dam unless the developer decides to surrender his license. Reclamation Seeks Salinity Control Proposals: Proposals for new projects under the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program were due to be received by Reclamation by May 7