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I~vel of Iishing recreation. Recent proposals to stock channel catfish into Kenney are being evaluated. It may be that repro- dm.::tively sterile catfish. bearing permanent marks or tags. could be stocked and that biulugists wuuld munilOl" their l1lovemel1ls and retull1~lO-the-creel. Using "sterile" callish should prevent long-tenll overpopulation problems in down- stream areas occupied by endangered fishes if significant numbers of catfish did escape Kenney Reservoir. The Kellney Reservoir e~periOlenl altempls to creale and lI1ainlaill a population chat is not essential 10 recovery. so thai anglers can gain greater exposme to the squaw fish and ils role wilhin Ihe ecosystem, We hupe this exposure will foster appreciation orlhe Colorado squaw fish, am.! all nalivespecies. as important ports of our Western heritage. -- Jim Bennett. Colorado nivi~i()n of Wildlife. FLAMING GORGE BIOLOGICAL OPINION Since 1986, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Fish and Wildlife Sen'ice have worked on several fishery and hydro- Illgic investigations to 8s~ess impacts of the operation of Flaming Gorge Dam on the rnre Colorado River fishes and galherdata for a Biological Opinion as required by the Endan- gered Species Act. Earlier studies by the FWS had determined that high releases during late summer and early fall from Flaming Gorge were nooding out backwater nursery habitat I'm young squawli.h, The questionlhat needed to be answered by these later studies: how to operate Flaming Gorge through- out Ihe yeaI' to provide the- flows that (he fishes need? Six biological studies and four hydrologic studies began in 1986. focusing on the Colorado squaw fish and humpback elm", as well as the razorback sucker, listed under State law as endangered in Colurado and Utah, The studies addressed the seasonal flow needs oflhese native fishes and investigated llle relAtionship of project opelatiol1 10 reproduction. species interaction and competitiol1lhnllimit the rare fishes. Fourof the biulogical studies were conducted by the FWS, and two by Reclamation's Denver research office. The two agencies also cooperated on the hydrologic sludies, which included 1I100el- ing tell1peralUl'e, hydrology and peaking power, as well as seUilJlenl transport and channel maintenance. Studies on the operational effects of Flaming Gorge Dam on the IRilwBtertrout fishery were also funded by Reclalllation and conducted by the Utah Divisiun of Wildlife Resources and the Cooperative Fishery lInit at L1tah State University in Logan, Endangered fish and sport fish studies were conducted Cl1llcurreluly to ensule that any proposed operational cflanges would reflect impacts on both leSOlU"ces. Originally. the Draft Oilllogical Opinioll wns tobe prepared by June 1989. However. low flow conditions on the Green River ill 1988 causet..lthe FWS and Reclamation to e~tend that dendline until March 1990 to allow for collection uf cominu- ous low flow infornlalion. as wellasl.:ompletion offluctuating now tests scheduled for 1989. All other investigations re- mained on scheuule. In addition, by November 1989. Flaming Gorge Section 7 Consultation Team. consisting of representatives from the FWS and Reclamation. will prepare an Integrated Technical Report based ul1the studies. It willdeterlllil~e tile flow require- .... ments for the various fishery resoun:es under inveslig.Hioll {(lid serve AS the technical nasis that the FV/S wiii lI~e ill prepm ing the Biological Opinion on the operation of 1:laming Gorge. which will be drafted by March 15, 199U, --Reed H.rri.. Rureau of Reclalllluion. WATER RIGHTS ACQUISITION One of the Illost important aspects or the Recovery Program is identiticalion and protection uf endangered fish habitat. This will be accomplished. in part. through efforts to d~(er- mine the fishes' habitat requirements and acquisition llltdlur approprialion of water 10 meet those n~eds. The program currently has over $1 million from Congres- sional appropriations to purchase. lease or in other ways acquire water that would then be prutected through the states' water rights systems, The lransactions will be completed strictly within state waler law, with willing sellers only. Rivers given the highest priority for protectinn include the Yampa.lhe White and a 15-mile reach of the Colorado from the Grand Valley Diversion downstream to the Gunnison River confluence. Studies oflhe fishes' flow requirements in these areas are being conducted by the Fish and Wildlife Service in coordination with various stAte, federal anu privale groups, Todate. major accomplishments include signing ofa coop- erative agreement to provide I U.UUU acre reet of stored water from Ruedi Reservoir fol' release ;1110 rhe 15-lllile reac.:h helow the Grand Valley Powerplant. completion of <l water rights availability study inlhe Yampa Basin by The Nalme Cunser- vancv and issuance of a cOl1lnlcl to idelltifv and evalmtle optio"us for providing instream nows tu (he f 5-mile reach of the Culorado River. 5