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. . . 'MAY-15-199S 15:53 BOR LULND 9706633212 P.16/24 15 points for the razorback sucker during spring runoff. Male and female razorback suckers in spawning condition have been found in the IS-mile reach, although no larvae or juveniles have been found. Although data is limited, Osmundson and Kaeding (1989) think razorback suckers may move into the IS-mile reach to spawn in the spring, but most spend the remainder of the year in an IS-mile reach downstream from the confluence of the Gunnison River. The current range of the razorback sucker in the Colorado River extends upstream to Rifle, Colorado. Host razorback suckers captured in the Grand Valley area have been located in flooded gravel-pit ponds adjacent to the river. However, Osmundson and Kaeding (1989) documented razorback sucker movement 1n various river habitats in the Grand Valley area. They documented razorback suckers in the IS-mile reach as far upstream as river mile 183.6. Additional surveys since 1988 have documented razorback suckers in riverside ponds as far upstream as river mile 23S near Rifle, Colorado (Burdick 1992). In 1992, one such isolated pond near Debeque, Colorado, was found to have a fairly large population of razorback sucker. In 1994, 41 razorback suckers Were collected from the DebeQue pond and implanted with radio transmitters. Twenty of these fish were then released into the Colorado River at three different backwater sites (river miles 211.1, 220.9, and 228.8) between Debeque and Rifle, Colorado, while the other 21 were released into the Gunnison River. These fish were released as part of an experimental, stocking program designed to gather information on dispersal, habitat use, survival, and other unknown factors in razorback sucker life history. This study is ongoing and final results have not yet been released. HumDbllclr: Chub Humpback chub generally do not make migrational movements in the upper Colorado River and tend to reside throughout the year within a limited reach of river. Humpback chub are found inhabiting narrow, deep canyon areas and are relatively restricted in distribution. They seldom leave their canyon habitat (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Seryice 1982). While humpback chub are regularly found dispersed in the Green and Vampa Rivers, the only major populations of humpback chub known to exist in the Upper Basin are located in Slack Rocks and Westwater Canyons on the Colorado RiVer. Critical Habitat Critical habitat has been designated within the humpback chub's historical range in the following sections of the Upper Basin (59 F.R. 13374). Those sections of critical habitat which will be affected by this project are preceded by an ast~risk (*). Colorado. Moffat Countv. The Vampa River from the boundary of Dinosaur National Monument in T. 6 N., R. 99 W., section 27 (6th Principal Meridian) to the confluence with the Green River in T. 7 N., R. 103 W., section 28 (6th Principal Meridian).