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, J.) WILDLIFE ~ ~ C\J ...-I Fish 1. Question - Why does the Bureau of Reclamation disagree with the Fish and Wildlife Service concerning the project effects on endangered fish species in the Yampa River? Answer - The Fish and Wildlife Service position is that the project may adversely affect these species. No quanti- tative data was furnished by the Service to substantiate this position, The Bureau does not believe that informa- tion has been developed to show that its analysis is incorrect. In fact, on three separate occasions, March 10, May 7, and June 4, 1976, the Bureau requested by letter biological evidence and appropriate documentation to support the Service's contention that the project may jeopardize endangered fish species in the Yampa River, Bureau studies show that the adverse changes in salinity and turbidity in the Yampa River would be very slight, there would be no change in water temperature, and the small change in flow regimen might actually benefit these species, " ~'j .~.' 2, Question - What is the proximity of known threatened and endangered fish species to the project? Answer - No endangered or threatened fish species have been taken by researchers from the Little Snake River, and because of extreme low flows in late summer it is doubtful that this stream is used by the species, The Colorado River squawfish and the humpback chub, both Federally listed endangered species, and the humpback sucker and bony tail chub, on the Colorado list of endangered and threatened species, have been found in the Yampa River near the mouth of the Little Snake River. The project area is about 70 miles upstream from the confluence of the Little Snake and Yampa Rivers.