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• 13 Bon ail Little is known about the biological requirements of the bonytail, as the species has drastically declined in numbers in the Upper Basin shortly after 1960. Until recently, the Service considered the species extirpated from the Upper Basin; however, a recently collected specimen which exhibits many bonytail characteristics could indicate a small, extant population (Kaeding et al. 1986). It is thought that, should this species persist in the Colorado River, the preferred habitat wou]d be in the larger river reaches. Critical Habitat Critical habitat has been designated within the bonytail's historical range in the following sections of the Upper Basin (59 F.R. 13374). Colorado. Moffat County. The Yampa 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). Utah. Uintah County: and Colorado, Moffat County. The Green River from the confluence with the Yampa River in T. 7 N., R. 103 W., section 28 (6th Principal Meridian) to the boundary of Dinosaur National Monument in T. 6 N., R. 24 E., section 30 (Salt Lake Meridian). • Utah. Uintah and Grand Counties. The Green River (Desolation and Gray Canyons) from Sumner's Amphitheater (river mile 85) in T. 12 S., R. 18 E., section 5 (Salt Lake Meridian) to Swasey's Rapid (river mile 12) in T. 20 S., R. 16 E., section 3 (Salt Lake Meridian). Utah. Grand County: and Colorado. Mesa County. The Colorado River from Black Rocks in 7. 10 S., R. 104 W., section 25 (6th Principal Meridian) to Fish Ford in T. 21 S., R. 24 E., section 35 (Salt Lake Meridian). Utah. Garfield and San Juan Counties. The Colorado River from Brown Betty Rapid in T. 30 S., R. 18 E., section 34 (Salt Lake Meridian) to Imperial Canyon in T. 31 S., R. 17 E., section 28 (Salt Lake Meridian). EFFECTS OF THE ACTION Impoundments and diversions have reduced peak discharges by 48 percent since 1942, while increasing base flows by 21 percent in some reaches. These depletions, along with a number of other factors, have resulted in such drastic reductions in the populations of the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, bonytail, and razorback sucker that the Service has listed these species as endangered and has implemented programs to prevent them from becoming extinct. Water depletions reduce the ability of the river to create and maintain • critical habitat. 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