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, . . 6 recommendations are determined. tn order to provide for assurance by the parties of continued "good faith" efforts toward development of a RIP, Reclamation recommends that an agreement be signed by the appropriate parties committing to the development of the RIP. At a minimum we believe the agreement should be signed by the Service: Reclamation: the BIA, the States of Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah; and the four Indian tribes of the San Juan River Basin. The agreement should assure the protection of instream flows, provide for Sharing of potential shortages of water. assure commitment for mimicry of the natural hydrograph in perpetuity, and the commitment to develop a RIP within 12 months. Reclamation maintains that with an executed agreement, the Service could then issue the Final Biological Opinion which would allow for the construction start of the agreed features of the ALP to deplete 57,100 AF while pursuing the development of the RIP. As a final issue prior to the preparation Of a Draft Biological Opinion, the Service has requested that Reclamation consider whether conferencing is necessary on the razorback sucker. This species was proposed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. Information collected during the survey work conducted from 1987 to I989. suggests the razorback sucker is extremely rare in the San Juan River proper. Only one razorback sucker was collected from the river in 1988, and recruitment has not been documented in the river or Lake Powell. This information is consistent with data collected on the Green and Colorado Rivers which confirms the precarious status of the species in the Upper Basin. The cause of the species decline is unknown. However, the virtual absence of recruitment in the Upper Basin suggests that both biological and physical factors may be adversely affect'ing the survival of early 1 ife stages of the razorback sucker. Investigations are currently underway on the Green and Colorado Rivers to promote the recovery of the razorback sucker in the Upper Basin. Part of these efforts include the capture and removal of razorback sucker from the San Juan River and arm of Lake Powell for genetic analyses and future development of a separate brood stock if necessary. This recovery effort is being undertaken so stocking of razorback sucker of the same genetic parentage can occur in the San Juan River, if these fish are determined to be genetically unique. Based on the above information, including the ongoing recovery activities afforded the razorback sucker under the existing Upper Basin RIP, Reclamation has determi~ed that any impacts of depleting 57,100 AF of water by the ALP will be fully offset by implementation of the reasonable and prudent alternative. Throughout the development of the alternative, the razorback sucker was considered as an integral part of the native fish community. Improvement of current flow conditions with the reoperation of Navajo Dam to mimic the natural hydrograph is expected to benefit both the Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker as well as the entire native fish community. The research and future development of a long~term recovery implementation program for the endangered fish will provide additional protection and recovery measures for the razorback sucker. Reclamation requests that the Service proceed with the issuance of a new draft biological opinion on the Colorado squawfish and initiate a conference on the razorback sucker for the ALP. We would like to meet the April 1, 1991, date Cj'