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a <:) (~ j'\) CJl ~ Mr. Calvin Joyner 12 from some localities, coupled with the species' continued decline in numbers and distribution, has prompted some research; however, details of its life history requirements, particularly in riverine environments, are still not fully understood. In general, a natural hydrograph with a large spring peak, a gradually descending limb into early summer, and low stable flows through summer, fall, and winter are thought to create the best habitat conditions for razorback suckers. Prior to construction of large main stem dams and the suppression of spring peak flows, low velocity, off-channel habitats (seasonally flooded bottomlands and shorelines) were commonly available throughout the Upper Basin (Tyus and Karp 1989; Osmundson and Kaeding 1991). The absence of these seasonally flooded riverine habitats is believed to be a limiting factor in the successful recruitment of razorback suckers in their native environment (Tyus and Karp 1989; Osmundson and Kaeding 1991). Tyus (1987) and McAda and Wydoski (1980) reported springtime aggregations of razorback suckers in off-channel impoundments and tributaries; such aggregations are believed to be associated with reproductive activities. Tyus and Karp (1990) and Osmundson and Kaeding (1991) reported off-channel habitats to be much warmer than the main stem river and that razorback suckers presumably moved to these areas for feeding, resting, sexual maturation, spawning, and other activities associated with their reproductive cycle. While razorback suckers have never been directly observed spawning in turbid riverine environments within the Upper Basin, captures of ripe specimens, both males and females, have been recorded (Valdez et al. 1982; McAda and Wydoski 1980; Tyus 1987; Osmundson and Kaeding 1989; Tyus and Karp 1989; Tyus and Karp 1990; Platania 1990; Osmundson and Kaeding 1991) in the Yampa, Green, Colorado, and San Juan Rivers. Sexually mature razorback suckers are generally collected on the ascending limb of the hydrograph from mid-April through June and are associated with coarse gravel substrates (depending on the specific location). Outside of the spawning season, adult razorback suckers occupy a variety of shoreline and main channel habitats including slow runs, shallow to deep pools, backwaters, eddies, and other relatively slow velocity areas associated with sand substrates (Tyus 1987; Tyus and Karp 1989; Osmundson and Kaeding 1989; Valdez and Masslich 1989; Tyus and Karp 1990; Osmundson and Kaeding 1991). The virtual absence of any recruitment suggests a combination of biological, physical, and/or chemical factors that may be affecting the survival and recruitment of early life stages of razorback suckers. Within the Upper Basin, recovery efforts endorsed by the "Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River" (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1987), include the capture and removal of razorback suckers from all known locations for genetic analyses and development of discrete brood stocks if necessary. These measures have been undertaken to develop refugia populations of razorback sucker from the same genetic parentage as their wild counterparts such that, if these fish are genetically unique by subbasin or individual population, then separate stocks will be available for future augmentation. Such augmentation may be a necessary step to prevent the extinction of razorback suckers in the Upper Basin.