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o o C. tu C.;l o 5 Mr. Calvin Joyner land or water ownership or management. The Service has identified water, physical habitat, and biological environment as the primary constituent elements. This includes a quantity of water of sufficient quality that is delivered to a specific location in accordance with a hydrologic regime that is required for the particular life stage for each species. Water depletions reduce the ability of the river system to provide the required water quantity and hydrologic regime necessary for recovery of the fishes. The physical habitat includes areas of the San Juan River system below Farmington, New Mexico, that are inhabited or potentially habitable for use in spawning and feeding, as a nursery, or serve as corridors between these areas. In addition, oxbows, backwaters, and other areas in the 100-year floodplain, when inundated, provide access to spawning, feeding, and nursery habitats. Water depletions reduce the ability of the river to create and maintain these important habitats. Food supply, predation, and competition are important elements of the biological environment. Food supply is a function of nutrient supply and productivity, which could be limited by reduction of high spring flows brought about by water depletions, Predation and competition from nonnative fish species has been identified as a factor in the decline of the endangered fishes. Water depletions contribute to alterations in flow regimes that favor nonnative fishes. The Service concludes that the pre-1983 water depletions impact the primary constituent elements and cause destruction or adverse modification to critical habitat. The Service concludes the post-1982 and proposed depletions do not cause destruction or adverse modification to critical habitat provided that they do not exceed the 3,000 acre-foot cumulative depletion. 8IOLOGICAL BACKGROUND A marked decline in Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker populations can be closely correlated with the construction of dams and reservoirs between the 1930's and the 1960's, introduction of nonnative fishes, and removal of water from the Colorado River system. Behnke and Benson (1983) summarized the decline of the natural ecosystem. They pointed out that dams, impoundments, and water use practices are probably the major reasons for drastically modified natural river flows and channel characteristics in the Colorado River Basin. Dams on the main stem Colorado and San Juan Rivers have essentially segmented the river systems, blocking Colorado squawfish and razorback sucker spawning migrations and drastically changing river characteristics, especially flows and temperatures. In addition, major changes in species composition have occurred due to the introduction of nonnative fishes, many of which have thrived as a result of changes in the natural riverine system (i.e., flow and temperature regimes). The decline of endemic Colorado River fishes seems to be at least partially related to competition or other behavioral interactions with nonnative species, which have perhaps been exacerbated by alterations in the natural fluvial environment. As the southernmost tributary of the Upper Colorado River Basin, the San Juan River peaks earlier in the year and attains warmer water temperatures than other Upper Basin streams and is conducive to longer and better growth potential for young Colorado squawfish and razorback suckers, Any additional large loss of water or further degradation of remaining habitats of the San Juan River will exacerbate problems the Colorado squawfish and razorback