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0027;)4 No time frames for completion of these activities were specified in the recovery plan for the Colorado squawfish. No specific areas for stocking of Colorado squawfish were identified in the recovery plan. However, in March, 1994, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service designated 912 river miles within the Upper Colorado River Basin as critical habitat for the Colorado squawfish (Federal Register Vol. 59, No. 54, March 21, 1994 pgs. 13374-400). The designated critical habitat included the following reaches: 1. Yampa River - from Craig, Colorado to confluence with the Green River (131 miles), 2. Green River - from confluence with the Yampa River to confluence with the Colorado River (333 miles), 3. White River - from Rio Blanco Reservoir to the confluence with the Green River (125 miles), 4. Gunnison River - from confluence with the Uncompaghre River to confluence with the Colorado River (60 miles), 5. Colorado River - from Rifle, Colorado to Lake Powell (263 miles). 2.2.2 Bony tail Chub The original recovery plan for the bonytail chub was finalized in May, 1984 (U.S. Fish and Wildlife 1984a). Revisions were made in September, 1990 which reflect the establishment of the Recovery Program (US. Fish and Wildlife Service 1990a). The revised recovery plan identified a short-term goal of preventing the extinction of the species due to their severely declining numbers. In the long- term, once the immediate threat of extinction was removed, the revised recovery plan listed four major actions that were needed to secure the survival of the bonytail chub. Three of the four major actions were directly related to stocking and genetics management and included (1) prevent extinction of the bonytail chub by establishing a genetically diverse captive population for use in efforts to reintroduce the fish into the wild, (2) reintroduce hatchery-reared bonytail chub into the wild, and (3) resolve taxonomic problems in Colorado River basin chubs, i.e., the bonytail, humpback, and roundtail (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1990a). The revised recovery plan called for the actions described below.. 1. Prevent extinction of bonytail chub in the wild. The bony tail chub is presently the most endangered fish species in the Colorado River Basin, Although individuals are still occasionally captured and captive stocks are being maintained, there is no evidence that any self-sustaining populations exist. Therefore, immediate action is required to prevent its extinction and maintain its gene pool. The following actions are considered priority actions: . Protect in Refugia. Studies indicate that the few bony tail chub existing in the wild are old fish which apparently are not reproducing. In time, these fish will be lost to mortality. Therefore, genetic evaluation of captive bony tail chub should be conducted to determine if obtaining wild bony tail would be required for future reintroduction efforts. If so, wild fish should be obtained and placed in refugiafor protection. . Establish and maintain refugia in at least two locations. A refugiumfor bony tail chub currently exists at Dexter National Fish Hatchery, New Mexico, and should be maintained One or more additional refugia should be established and maintained 4