Common use of Recovery Actions Clause in Contracts

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result of concerns expressed by the Service and other Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for the Yampa River in 2005. In 2009, the Recovery Program and CWCB will review CDOW's flow recommendation methodology and progress of performance under the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year of the first 5-year period after completion of the PBO), the Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a process for assessing the need for further instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes. Flows in the Little Snake River after estimated future depletions were identified in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditions. However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National Monument. It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in larger diversions may be evaluated beginning in 2007. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on smallmouth bass control. In 2004, the Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River. Active control of smallmouth bass in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include the targeted population. Control was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. The Program’s integrated stocking plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and Yampa rivers. Stocking bonytail in the Yampa River was initiated in 2000.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result Because of concerns expressed by the Service and other Recovery Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. To achieve flow protection objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan with extensive local input. The Plan identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for in 2005. The Yampa River Management Plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in 2005the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at an acceptable cost. Construction of enlargement for human and endangered fish water supplies is complete and water releases for the endangered fish began in 2007. The Recovery Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and has the option to lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis from the Colorado River Water Conservation District. In 20092017, the Recovery Program partnered with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Maybell Irrigation District, and CWCB will review CDOW's the Yampa-White River Roundtable to install flow recommendation methodology measurement improvements and progress of performance under automate operations at the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year upper end of the first 5-year period after completion of Maybell Canal to allow the PBO), the Recovery Program Maybell District to more quickly adjust its diversions and CWCB will develop a process for assessing the need for further instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes ensure that Elkhead fish releases remain in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding The Recovery Program and CWCB reevaluate the need for additional instream-flow filings or other protective mechanisms at least every 5 years and document their findings. The Recovery Program determined in November 2011 that additional permanent protection for in the endangered fishesform of instream flow filings on the Yampa was not necessary at that time. Flows in As part of the pending Yampa River depletion accounting report, CWCB will make an estimate of current and projected future depletions and will recommend whether or not additional instream flow filings or other flow protection mechanisms should be considered. Flow contributions from the Little Snake River River, as they assist in recovery in the Yampa River, were identified after estimated future depletions were identified accounted for in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Disturbance of fish habitat related to maintenance of diversion structures was evaluated and found to be minimal based on the limited area and duration of the disturbance. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditionsconditions (Hydrosphere 1995a). However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National MonumentMonument (Masslich 1993). It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment Evaluation of entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in the larger diversions may Maybell Canal diversion began in 2007 and continued in 2011 and 2012. Only one endangered fish, a Colorado pikeminnow, was detected in 2012 (Xxxxx et al. 2014). The Service’s 2014 Sufficient Progress memo concluded that due to relatively low rates of documented entrainment of endangered fish, an exclusion device would not be evaluated beginning cost effective at this time. The Service recommended that the Recovery Program should strive to offset impacts at the Maybell Canal by completing the Yampa River nonnative fish control actions identified in 2007the RIPRAP. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control management of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This , but the Recovery Program discontinued this work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on the control of smallmouth bass, whose population expanded dramatically in the early 2000s coincident with the abrupt decline in small-bodied and juvenile native fishes and a rapid increase in virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) (Xxxxxxxx 2012). Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. The Recovery Program now removes smallmouth bass controland northern pike at some level of intensity from Steamboat Springs downstream to the confluence with the Green River. Northern pike distribution in the Yampa River extends from reservoirs in the upper reaches downstream to the Green River, but pike numbers are highest in the cooler upstream reaches. CPW has completed several habitat remediation projects to reduce northern pike spawning habitat in the upper Yampa River near Steamboat Springs. Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2004, the Recovery Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant upstream source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX CPW began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CPW agreed to discontinuing the pike marking pass in the Yampa River buffer zone between Xxxxxx and Xxxxx. Translocation of pike to off-channel waters was discontinued in 2014. In 2015, Colorado State University completed an investigation of northern pike abundance and population dynamics in the Yampa River during the removal period of 2004 to 2010 (Xxxxxxx et al., 2015). Northern pike abundance was highest in upstream reaches, but survival was highest in downstream reaches. Combined immigration and recruitment from river and reservoir sources were determined to offset northern pike removal rates; therefore, northern pike removal rates in the Yampa River were deemed insufficient to reach removal targets without reducing reproduction and escapement. CPW and others have undertaken a spawning suppression project using xxxx nets in backwaters. This effort has captured many northern pike before they could reproduce and nearby electrofishing catch, rates have decreased. Northern pike were illegally introduced into Stagecoach Reservoir and subsequently spread downstream into the privately owned Catamount Reservoir. Catamount is known to contribute northern pike downstream into the Yampa River, including in critical habitat (Orabutt 2006; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2008; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2010). CPW conducts intensive mechanical removal of northern pike from Catamount Reservoir and is working with the Catamount Ranch and Club (CRC) to restore the trout fishery there. CRC has implemented must-kill for northern pike in the reservoir. Pike numbers and the size of captured pike have been reduced, but individuals can reinvade the reservoir from Stagecoach Reservoir upstream; however, only one pike confirmed to have escaped from Stagecoach Reservoir has been captured in Catamount Reservoir in the last 5 years. Unlike northern pike, smallmouth bass densities in the Yampa River are higher in the lower, warmer portions of the river. Active control removal of smallmouth bass in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include a greater portion of the targeted population. Control Removal was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. In 2009, smallmouth bass removal was expanded throughout critical habitat on the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CDOW agreed to cease translocation of adult smallmouth bass from the Yampa River into Elkhead Reservoir due to concerns about the rate of escapement of translocated and resident smallmouth bass from the reservoir and the propagule pressure and proliferative capacity of these escapees within critical habitat. The Recovery Program’s integrated stocking multi-year assessment of smallmouth bass escapement from Elkhead Reservoir is complete (Breton et al. 2013) and demonstrated that a solution for nonnative fish escapement was needed. In 2016, Program partners completed installation of a net across the spillway to eliminate further escapement. The net is supported by an updated lake management plan that describes in-reservoir actions to disadvantage the existing populations of northern pike and smallmouth bass. The programmatic synthesis of smallmouth bass (Breton et al. 2014) populations in the upper Colorado River basin is also completed. In general, abundant year classes of young smallmouth bass produced in low flow and warm years such as 2007 have potential to overwhelm removal efforts, and the year class persists for one or more years. Nonetheless, it appears that increased electrofishing removal efforts from 2007 to 2011 resulted in sustained reductions in density of smallmouth bass sub-adults and adults throughout the upper basin despite environmental conditions that favored smallmouth bass reproduction in some years (e.g. 2007 and 2009) (Xxxxxx et al. 2014). The Recovery Program’s Integrated Stocking Plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines outlined plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and River that included the confluence of the Yampa riversRiver. Stocking bonytail in at the confluence of the Yampa River and Green rivers was initiated in 2000. The Integrated Stocking Plan was revised (Integrated Stocking Plan Revision Committee 2015) and more and larger bonytail are currently being stocked at Echo Park and/or Deerlodge. In 2017, over 2000 bonytail were stocked into the Yampa River at Hell’s Canyon Ranch with the support of the landowner.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result of concerns expressed by the Service and other Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. To achieve flow protection objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan with extensive local input. The Plan identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for the Yampa River in 2005. In 2009The Yampa River Management Plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of enlargement for human and endangered fish water supplies is complete and water releases for the endangered fish began in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. The Recovery Program and CWCB will review CDOW's flow recommendation methodology and progress of performance under the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year of the first 5-year period after completion of the PBO), the Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a process for assessing reevaluate the need for further instream-flow filings or other protective mechanisms at least every 5 years and document their findings. The Program determined in November 2011 that additional permanent protection for in the endangered fishes form of instream flow filings was not deemed necessary at that time. As part of the pending Yampa River depletion accounting report, CWCB will make a recommendation that addresses current and projected future depletions and whether or not additional instream flow filings or other flow protection mechanisms should be considered. Flow contributions from the Little Snake River, as they assist in recovery in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes. Flows in the Little Snake River were identified after estimated future depletions were identified accounted for in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Disturbance of fish habitat related to maintenance of diversion structures was evaluated and found to be minimal based on the limited area and duration of the disturbance. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditionsconditions (Hydrosphere 1995a). However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National Monument. It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment Evaluation of entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in the larger diversions may be evaluated beginning Xxxxxxx diversion began in 20072007 and continued in 2011 and 2012. No endangered fish were encountered in the canal in 2011; one Colorado pikeminnow was detected in 2012. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control management of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This , but discontinued this work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on the control of smallmouth bass controlbass, whose population expanded dramatically in the early 2000s coincident with the abrupt decline in small-bodied and juvenile native fishes and a rapid increase in virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) (Xxxxxxxx 2012). In 2004, the Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant upstream source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CDOW agreed to discontinuing the pike marking pass in the Yampa River buffer zone between Xxxxxx and Xxxxx. Active control removal of smallmouth bass in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include a greater portion of the targeted population. Control Removal was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. In 2009, smallmouth bass removal was expanded throughout critical habitat on the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CDOW agreed to ceasing translocation of adult smallmouth bass from the Yampa River into Elkhead Reservoir due to concerns about the rate of escapement of translocated and resident smallmouth bass from the reservoir and the propagule pressure and proliferative capacity of these escapees within critical habitat. The Recovery Program’s multi-year assessment of smallmouth bass escapement from Elkhead Reservoir is nearly complete (Breton et al. 2012, in draft) and programmatic syntheses of both smallmouth bass and northern pike populations in the Yampa River are underway. The Program’s integrated stocking plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and River which includes the confluence of the Yampa riversRiver. Stocking bonytail in at the confluence of the Yampa River and Green rivers was initiated in 2000. The integrated stocking plan is being revised.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result of concerns expressed by the Service and other Recovery Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. To achieve flow protection objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan with extensive local input. The Plan identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for the Yampa River in 2005. In 2009The Yampa River Management Plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of enlargement for human and endangered fish water supplies is complete and water releases for the endangered fish began in 2007. The Recovery Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and has the option to lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis from the Colorado River Water Conservation District. The Recovery Program and CWCB will review CDOW's flow recommendation methodology and progress of performance under the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year of the first 5-year period after completion of the PBO), the Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a process for assessing reevaluate the need for further instream-flow filings or other protective mechanisms at least every 5 years and document their findings. The Recovery Program determined in November 2011 that additional permanent protection for in the endangered fishes form of instream flow filings was not deemed necessary at that time. As part of the pending Yampa River depletion accounting report, CWCB will make an estimate of current and projected future depletions and will recommend whether or not additional instream flow filings or other flow protection mechanisms should be considered. Flow contributions from the Little Snake River, as they assist in recovery in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes. Flows in the Little Snake River were identified after estimated future depletions were identified accounted for in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Disturbance of fish habitat related to maintenance of diversion structures was evaluated and found to be minimal based on the limited area and duration of the disturbance. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditionsconditions (Hydrosphere 1995a). However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National MonumentMonument (Masslich 1993). It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment Evaluation of entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in the larger diversions may Maybell diversion began in 2007 and continued in 2011 and 2012. Only one endangered fish, a Colorado pikeminnow, was detected in 2012 (Xxxxx et al. 2014). The Service’s 2014 Sufficient Progress memo concluded that due to relatively low rates of entrainment, an exclusion device would not be evaluated beginning cost effective. The Service recommended that the Recovery Program should strive to offset impacts at the Maybell Canal by completing the Yampa River nonnative fish control actions identified in 2007the RIPRAP addendum included in their 2013 memo. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control management of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This , but the Recovery Program discontinued this work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on the control of smallmouth bass, whose population expanded dramatically in the early 2000s coincident with the abrupt decline in small-bodied and juvenile native fishes and a rapid increase in virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) (Xxxxxxxx 2012). Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. The Recovery Program now removes smallmouth bass controland northern pike at some level of intensity from Steamboat Springs downstream to the confluence with the Green River. Northern pike distribution in the Yampa River extends from reservoirs in the upper reaches downstream to the Green River, but pike numbers are highest in the cooler upstream reaches. CPW has undertaken remediation projects to reduce northern pike spawning habitat in the upper Yampa River. Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2004, the Recovery Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant upstream source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX CPW began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CPW agreed to discontinuing the pike marking pass in the Yampa River buffer zone between Xxxxxx and Xxxxx. Translocation of pike to off-channel waters was discontinued in 2014. In 2015, Colorado State University completed an investigation of northern pike abundance and population dynamics in the Yampa River during the removal period of 2004 to 2010 (Xxxxxxx et al., 2015). Northern pike abundance was highest in upstream reaches, but survival was highest in downstream reaches. Combined immigration and recruitment from river and reservoir sources were determined to offset northern pike removal rates; therefore northern pike removal rates in the Yampa River were deemed insufficient to reach removal targets without reducing reproduction and escapement. Northern pike were illegally introduced into Stagecoach Reservoir and subsequently spread downstream into the privately owned Catamount Reservoir. Catamount is known to contribute northern pike downstream into the Yampa River, including in critical habitat (Orabutt 2006; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2008; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2010). CPW conducts intensive mechanical removal of northern pike from Catamount Reservoir and is working with the Catamount Ranch and Club (CRC) to restore the trout fishery there. CRC has implemented a must-kill regulation for northern pike in the reservoir. Pike numbers and the size of captured pike have been reduced, but individuals can reinvade the reservoir from Stagecoach Reservoir upstream; however, only one pike confirmed to have escaped from Stagecoach Reservoir has been captured in Catamount Reservoir in the last 5 years. Unlike northern pike, smallmouth bass densities in the Yampa River are higher in the lower, warmer portions of the river. Active control removal of smallmouth bass in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include a greater portion of the targeted population. Control Removal was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. In 2009, smallmouth bass removal was expanded throughout critical habitat on the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CDOW agreed to cease translocation of adult smallmouth bass from the Yampa River into Elkhead Reservoir due to concerns about the rate of escapement of translocated and resident smallmouth bass from the reservoir and the propagule pressure and proliferative capacity of these escapees within critical habitat. The Recovery Program’s integrated stocking plan multi-year assessment of smallmouth bass escapement from Elkhead Reservoir is complete (Breton et al. 2013) and demonstrated that a solution for nonnative fish escapement is needed. Program partners are in the process of engineering, purchasing, and installing a net across the spillway to eliminate escapement. The net would be supported by in-reservoir actions to disadvantage the existing populations of northern pike and smallmouth bass. The programmatic synthesis of smallmouth bass (Breton et al. 2014) populations in the upper Colorado River basin is also completed. In general, abundant year classes of young smallmouth bass produced in low flow and warm years such as 2007 have potential to overwhelm removal efforts, and the year class persists for one or more years. Nonetheless, it appears that increased electrofishing removal efforts from 2007 to 2011 resulted in sustained reductions in density of smallmouth bass sub-adults and adults throughout the upper basin despite environmental conditions that favored smallmouth bass reproduction in some years (e.g. 2007 and 2009) (Xxxxxx et al. 2014). The Recovery Program’s Integrated Stocking Plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and River which includes the confluence of the Yampa riversRiver. Stocking bonytail in at the confluence of the Yampa River and Green rivers was initiated in 2000. The Integrated Stocking Plan was recently revised (Integrated Stocking Plan Revision Committee 2015) and more and larger bonytail are currently being stocked at Echo Park and/or Deerlodge.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result Because of concerns expressed by the Service and other Recovery Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW CPW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendationsrecommendations for the Yampa River. To achieve flow protection objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan with extensive local input. The Plan identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for the Yampa River in 2005. In 2009, the Recovery Program and CWCB will review CDOW's flow recommendation methodology and progress of performance under the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year of the first 5-year period after completion of the PBO), the Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a process for assessing the need for further instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes. Flows in the Little Snake River after estimated future depletions were identified in the The Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at an acceptable cost. Enlargement for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, human and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried endangered fish water supplies was completed in 1994–1995. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to 2005 and water releases for the endangered fish migration under certain conditions. However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National Monument. It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in larger diversions may be evaluated beginning began in 2007. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches funded a 5,000 acre-foot (af) pool of permanent storage out of the Yampa 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and has the option to lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis from the Colorado River andWater Conservation District. In 2017, where feasiblethe Recovery Program partnered with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, relocating them Maybell Irrigation District, and the Yampa-White River Roundtable to install flow measurement improvements and automate operations at the upper end of the Maybell Canal to allow the Maybell District to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on smallmouth bass control. In 2004, the Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike quickly adjust its diversions and ensure that may gain access to endangered Elkhead fish critical habitat releases remain in the Yampa River. Active control of smallmouth bass The Recovery Program and CWCB are expected to reevaluate the need for instream- flow filings or other protective mechanisms at least every 5 years and document their findings. The Recovery Program determined in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and November 2011 that additional permanent protection in the lower form of instream flow filings on the Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004was not necessary at that time. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in Depletion accounting reports for water uses from 2006 in order to geographically include the targeted population. Control was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. The Program’s integrated stocking plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and Yampa rivers. Stocking bonytail through 2015 in the Yampa River was initiated basin and 2011 through 2015 in 2000the Little Snake River basin (provided in 2019 by the States of Colorado and Wyoming) indicate that few if any net new depletions have occurred in those river basins relative to the 1998 PBO baseline, nor were any substantial new depletions anticipated in the near future. For this reason the Program and CWCB do not consider additional instream flow filings or other flow protection mechanisms to be a high priority in the Yampa River basin at this time.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result Because of concerns expressed by the Service and other Recovery Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW CPW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. To achieve flow protection objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan with extensive local input. The Plan identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for in 2005. The Yampa River Management Plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in 2005the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at an acceptable cost. Construction of enlargement for human and endangered fish water supplies is complete and water releases for the endangered fish began in 2007. The Recovery Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and has the option to lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis from the Colorado River Water Conservation District. In 20092017, the Recovery Program partnered with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Maybell Irrigation District, and CWCB will review CDOW's the Yampa-White River Roundtable to install flow recommendation methodology measurement improvements and progress of performance under automate operations at the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year upper end of the first 5-year period after completion of Maybell Canal to allow the PBO), the Recovery Program Maybell District to more quickly adjust its diversions and CWCB will develop a process for assessing the need for further instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes ensure that Elkhead fish releases remain in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding The Recovery Program and CWCB reevaluate the need for additional instream-flow filings or other protective mechanisms at least every 5 years and document their findings. The Recovery Program determined in November 2011 that additional permanent protection for in the endangered fishesform of instream flow filings on the Yampa was not necessary at that time. Flows in As part of the pending Yampa River depletion accounting report, CWCB will make an estimate of current and projected future depletions and will recommend whether or not additional instream flow filings or other flow protection mechanisms should be considered. Flow contributions from the Little Snake River River, as they assist in recovery in the Yampa River, were identified after estimated future depletions were identified accounted for in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Disturbance of fish habitat related to maintenance of diversion structures was evaluated and found to be minimal based on the limited area and duration of the disturbance. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditionsconditions (Hydrosphere 1995a). However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National MonumentMonument (Masslich 1993). It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment Evaluation of entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in the larger diversions may Xxxxxxx Canal diversion began in 2007 and continued in 2011 and 2012. Only one endangered fish, a Colorado pikeminnow, was detected in 2012 (Xxxxx et al. 2014). The Service’s 2014 Sufficient Progress memo concluded that due to relatively low rates of documented entrainment of endangered fish, an exclusion device would not be evaluated beginning cost effective at this time. The Service recommended that the Recovery Program should strive to offset impacts at the Maybell Canal by completing the Yampa River nonnative fish control actions identified in 2007the RIPRAP. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control management of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This , but the Recovery Program discontinued this work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on the control of smallmouth bass, whose population expanded dramatically in the early 2000s coincident with the abrupt decline in small-bodied and juvenile native fishes and a rapid increase in virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) (Xxxxxxxx 2012). Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. The Recovery Program now removes smallmouth bass controland northern pike at some level of intensity from Steamboat Springs downstream to the confluence with the Green River. Northern pike distribution in the Yampa River extends from reservoirs in the upper reaches downstream to the Green River, but pike numbers are highest in the cooler upstream reaches. CPW has completed several habitat remediation projects to reduce northern pike spawning habitat in the upper Yampa River near Steamboat Springs. Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2004, the Recovery Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant upstream source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX CPW began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CPW agreed to discontinuing the pike marking pass in the Yampa River buffer zone between Xxxxxx and Xxxxx. Translocation of pike to off-channel waters was discontinued in 2014. In 2015, Colorado State University completed an investigation of northern pike abundance and population dynamics in the Yampa River during the removal period of 2004 to 2010 (Xxxxxxx et al. 2015). Northern pike abundance was highest in upstream reaches, but survival was highest in downstream reaches. Combined immigration and recruitment from river and reservoir sources were determined to offset northern pike removal rates; therefore, northern pike removal rates in the Yampa River were deemed insufficient to reach removal targets without reducing reproduction and escapement. CPW and others have undertaken a spawning suppression project using xxxx nets in backwaters. This effort has captured many northern pike before they could reproduce and electrofishing catch rates have decreased in nearby reaches. Northern pike were illegally introduced into Stagecoach Reservoir and subsequently spread downstream into the privately owned Lake Catamount. Lake Catamount is known to contribute northern pike downstream into the Yampa River, including in critical habitat (Orabutt 2006; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2008; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2010). CPW conducts intensive mechanical removal of northern pike from Catamount Reservoir and is working with the Catamount Ranch and Club (CRC) to restore the trout fishery there. CRC has implemented must-kill for northern pike in the reservoir. Pike numbers and the size of captured pike have been reduced, but individuals can reinvade the reservoir from Stagecoach Reservoir upstream; however, only one pike confirmed to have escaped from Stagecoach Reservoir has been captured in Catamount Reservoir in the last 5 years. Unlike northern pike, smallmouth bass densities in the Yampa River are higher in the lower, warmer portions of the river. Active control removal of smallmouth bass in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include a greater portion of the targeted population. Control Removal was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. In 2009, smallmouth bass removal was expanded throughout critical habitat on the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CPW agreed to cease translocation of adult smallmouth bass from the Yampa River into Elkhead Reservoir due to concerns about the rate of escapement of translocated and resident smallmouth bass from the reservoir and the propagule pressure and proliferative capacity of these escapees within critical habitat. The Recovery Program’s integrated stocking multi-year assessment of smallmouth bass escapement from Elkhead Reservoir is complete (Breton et al. 2013) and demonstrated that a solution for nonnative fish escapement was needed. In 2016, Program partners completed installation of a net across the spillway to eliminate further escapement. The net is supported by an updated lake management plan that describes in-reservoir actions to disadvantage the existing populations of northern pike and smallmouth bass. The programmatic synthesis of smallmouth bass (Breton et al. 2014) populations in the upper Colorado River basin is also completed. In general, abundant year classes of young smallmouth bass produced in low flow and warm years such as 2007 have potential to overwhelm removal efforts, and the year class persists for one or more years. Nonetheless, it appears that increased electrofishing removal efforts from 2007 to 2011 resulted in sustained reductions in density of smallmouth bass sub-adults and adults throughout the upper basin despite environmental conditions that favored smallmouth bass reproduction in some years (e.g. 2007 and 2009) (Xxxxxx et al. 2014). The Recovery Program’s Integrated Stocking Plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines outlined plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and River that included the confluence of the Yampa riversRiver. Stocking bonytail in at the confluence of the Yampa River and Green rivers was initiated in 2000. The Integrated Stocking Plan was revised (Integrated Stocking Plan Revision Committee 2015) and more and larger bonytail are currently being stocked at Echo Park, Deerlodge or Hell’s Canyon (Mantle Ranch). In 2018, over 2500 bonytail were stocked into the Yampa River at Deerlodge.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program has developed the a draft Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 20042003). The plan proposed proposes to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of Environmental compliance and permitting for the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007are underway. The Program funded a would purchase 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result of concerns expressed by the Service and other Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the recent approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW staff was has been instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. A cooperative agreement implementing The current methodology for instream flow filings may not apply to warm-water rivers and is under review by CDOW. Beginning 5 years after the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were are completed for the Yampa River in 2005. In 2009River, the Recovery Program and CWCB will review CDOW's new flow recommendation methodology recommendations and the performance progress of performance under the Yampa PBO. During 2008 (the fourth year of the first 5-year period after completion of the PBO)period, the Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a process for assessing the need for further instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes in the Yampa Riverfishes. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes. Flows in the Little Snake River after estimated future depletions were identified in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditions. However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National Monument. It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment of In studies on the Green River, researchers documented that young Colorado pikeminnow constituted 5% of the diet of northern pike, even though young Colorado pikeminnow made up a much smaller portion of the available food base in larger diversions the river. Researchers estimated that a single northern pike could consume 100 or more young Colorado pikeminnow per year. Also, northern pike are known to prey on native roundtail chub (Gila robusta) and may be evaluated beginning also feed on humpback chubs in 2007the Yampa River. Colorado has completed a fisheries management plan for the Yampa River basin. Smallmouth bass in the Yampa River have rapidly increased in abundance and pose a significant predatory and competitive threat to the endangered fish. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control of channel catfish Initial flow recommendations for the Little Snake River will be developed in Yampa Canyon began in 20012004. This work was discontinued in 2007 (except Beginning 5 years after the Management Plan and a PBO are completed for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on smallmouth bass control. In 2004, the Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River, the Recovery Program and CWCB will review CDOW's new flow recommendations and the performance progress of the PBO. Active control During the fourth year of smallmouth bass in the first 5-year period, the Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a 12process for assessing the need for further instream-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyonflow protection for the endangered fishes. On completion of this review, a 5determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in flow protection for the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include the targeted population. Control was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areasendangered fishes. The Program’s integrated stocking plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and Yampa rivers. Stocking bonytail in the Yampa River was initiated in 2000.

Recovery Actions. Recovery actions in the Yampa River are focused on control of nonnative fishes and maintaining and legally protecting the flow regime required to recover the endangered fishes. To achieve these objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan which identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). The plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of the enlargement is complete and water is expected to be provided on a test basis in 2007. The Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and may lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis. Colorado filed for a junior instream-flow water right for the Yampa River between the confluences of the Xxxxxxxx Fork and Little Snake rivers in December 1995. Forty-eight statements of opposition were filed against these filings in State water court. As a result of concerns expressed by the Service and other Recovery Program participants, CWCB withdrew the baseflow and recovery flow instream-flow filings on the Yampa and Colorado rivers. With the approval of the PBO for the upper Colorado River upstream of the Gunnison River confluence, CDOW staff was instructed by CWCB to develop new methodologies and flow recommendations. To achieve flow protection objectives, the Recovery Program developed the Yampa River Management Plan with extensive local input. The Plan identifies management actions necessary to provide and protect the needs of the endangered fishes while existing depletions for human use continue and water resources are developed to serve foreseeable future human needs in the Yampa River basin (Xxxxx 2004). A cooperative agreement implementing the Yampa River Management Plan and a PBO were completed for the Yampa River in 2005. The Yampa River Management Plan proposed to augment Yampa River base flows in accordance with the Yampa River flow recommendations (Xxxxx et al. 1999). Of thirteen alternatives identified and evaluated in the Plan, enlargement of Elkhead Reservoir provided the most reliable water supply at a moderate cost. Construction of enlargement for human and endangered fish water supplies is complete and water releases for the endangered fish began in 2007. The Recovery Program funded a 5,000 af pool of permanent storage out of the 12,000 af Elkhead enlargement and has the option to lease up to an additional 2,000 af on an as-needed basis from the Colorado River Water Conservation District. In 20092016, the Recovery Program agreed to partner with the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Maybell Irrigation District, and CWCB will review CDOW's flow recommendation methodology and progress the Yampa-White River Roundtable to install an automated gate in the Maybell Canal to return Elkhead fish releases, enhancing flows to ten mile reach of performance under the Yampa PBORiver. During 2008 (the fourth year of the first 5-year period after completion of the PBO), the The Recovery Program and CWCB will develop a process for assessing reevaluate the need for further instream-flow filings or other protective mechanisms at least every 5 years and document their findings. The Recovery Program determined in November 2011 that additional permanent protection for in the endangered fishes form of instream flow filings was not deemed necessary at that time. As part of the pending Yampa River depletion accounting report, CWCB will make an estimate of current and projected future depletions and will recommend whether or not additional instream flow filings or other flow protection mechanisms should be considered. Flow contributions from the Little Snake River, as they assist in recovery in the Yampa River. On completion of this review, a determination will be made regarding the need for additional instream-flow protection for the endangered fishes. Flows in the Little Snake River were identified after estimated future depletions were identified accounted for in the Yampa River Management Plan and Environmental Assessment (Xxxxx 2004). The Recovery Program has evaluated several low-head agricultural-water diversion dams on the Yampa River for Colorado pikeminnow passage. A variety of existing diversions between Craig, Colorado, and Dinosaur National Monument were inventoried in 1994–1995. Disturbance of fish habitat related to maintenance of diversion structures was evaluated and found to be minimal based on the limited area and duration of the disturbance. Several diversions were identified as possible barriers to fish migration under certain conditionsconditions (Hydrosphere 1995a). However, due to uncertainties about whether these diversions were in fact barriers to Colorado pikeminnow movement during the migration period, a study was conducted to determine threshold flows for adult Colorado pikeminnow passage on the Yampa River between Xxxxx and Dinosaur National MonumentMonument (Masslich 1993). It was determined that these barriers present little if any problem to fish movement during the periods when Colorado pikeminnow migrate to and from spawning habitats downstream. Entrainment Evaluation of entrainment of Colorado pikeminnow in the larger diversions may Maybell diversion began in 2007 and continued in 2011 and 2012. Only one endangered fish, a Colorado pikeminnow, was detected in 2012 (Xxxxx et al. 2014). The Service’s 2014 Sufficient Progress memo concluded that due to relatively low rates of entrainment, an exclusion device would not be evaluated beginning cost effective. The Service recommended that the Recovery Program should strive to offset impacts at the Maybell Canal by completing the Yampa River nonnative fish control actions identified in 2007the RIPRAP addendum included in their 2013 memo. The Recovery Program began removing nonnative sportfish from certain reaches of the Yampa River and, where feasible, relocating them to more acceptable waters in 1999. Active control management of channel catfish in Yampa Canyon began in 2001. This , but the Recovery Program discontinued this work was discontinued in 2007 (except for incidental removal of very large fish) to focus on the control of smallmouth bass, whose population expanded dramatically in the early 2000s coincident with the abrupt decline in small-bodied and juvenile native fishes and a rapid increase in virile crayfish (Orconectes virilis) (Xxxxxxxx 2012). Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. The Recovery Program now removes smallmouth bass controland northern pike at some level of intensity from Steamboat Springs downstream to the confluence with the Green River. Northern pike distribution in the Yampa River extends from reservoirs in the upper reaches downstream to the Green River, but pike numbers are highest in the cooler upstream reaches. CPW has undertaken remediation projects to reduce northern pike spawning habitat in the upper Yampa River. Active removal of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2004, the Recovery Program began tagging northern pike in the Yampa River upstream of the Hayden Bridge to determine if it is a significant upstream source of northern pike moving downstream into critical habitat. Active control of northern pike downstream of Hayden began in 2003. In 2005, XXXX CPW began undertaking work to determine sources of northern pike that may gain access to endangered fish critical habitat in the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CPW agreed to discontinuing the pike marking pass in the Yampa River buffer zone between Xxxxxx and Xxxxx. Translocation of pike to off-channel waters was discontinued in 2014. In 2015, Colorado State University completed an investigation of northern pike abundance and population dynamics in the Yampa River during the removal period of 2004 to 2010 (Xxxxxxx et al., 2015). Northern pike abundance was highest in upstream reaches, but survival was highest in downstream reaches. Combined immigration and recruitment from river and reservoir sources were determined to offset northern pike removal rates; therefore northern pike removal rates in the Yampa River were deemed insufficient to reach removal targets without reducing reproduction and escapement. Northern pike were illegally introduced into Stagecoach Reservoir and subsequently spread downstream into the privately owned Catamount Reservoir. Catamount is known to contribute northern pike downstream into the Yampa River, including in critical habitat (Orabutt 2006; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2008; Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx 2010). CPW conducts intensive mechanical removal of northern pike from Catamount Reservoir and is working with the Catamount Ranch and Club (CRC) to restore the trout fishery there. CRC has implemented must-kill for northern pike in the reservoir. Pike numbers and the size of captured pike have been reduced, but individuals can reinvade the reservoir from Stagecoach Reservoir upstream; however, only one pike confirmed to have escaped from Stagecoach Reservoir has been captured in Catamount Reservoir in the last 5 years. Unlike northern pike, smallmouth bass densities in the Yampa River are higher in the lower, warmer portions of the river. Active control removal of smallmouth bass in a 12-mile treatment reach in Little Yampa Canyon, a 5-mile treatment reach in Lily Park, and in the lower Yampa River in Yampa Canyon began in 2004. The 12-mile treatment was expanded to 24 miles in 2006 in order to geographically include a greater portion of the targeted population. Control Removal was also expanded in 2006 to include the South Beach reach immediately upstream of the Little Yampa Canyon treatment reach in order to focus control on concentration areas. In 2009, smallmouth bass removal was expanded throughout critical habitat on the Yampa River. Prior to the 2011 sampling season, the Recovery Program recommended and CDOW agreed to cease translocation of adult smallmouth bass from the Yampa River into Elkhead Reservoir due to concerns about the rate of escapement of translocated and resident smallmouth bass from the reservoir and the propagule pressure and proliferative capacity of these escapees within critical habitat. The Recovery Program’s integrated stocking multi-year assessment of smallmouth bass escapement from Elkhead Reservoir is complete (Breton et al. 2013) and demonstrated that a solution for nonnative fish escapement was needed. In 2016, Program partners completed installation of a net across the spillway to eliminate further escapement. The net is supported by an updated lake management plan that describes in-reservoir actions to disadvantage the existing populations of northern pike and smallmouth bass. The programmatic synthesis of smallmouth bass (Breton et al. 2014) populations in the upper Colorado River basin is also completed. In general, abundant year classes of young smallmouth bass produced in low flow and warm years such as 2007 have potential to overwhelm removal efforts, and the year class persists for one or more years. Nonetheless, it appears that increased electrofishing removal efforts from 2007 to 2011 resulted in sustained reductions in density of smallmouth bass sub-adults and adults throughout the upper basin despite environmental conditions that favored smallmouth bass reproduction in some years (e.g. 2007 and 2009) (Xxxxxx et al. 2014). The Recovery Program’s Integrated Stocking Plan (Xxxxxx et al. 2003) outlines plans for stocking bonytail in the middle Green and River which includes the confluence of the Yampa riversRiver. Stocking bonytail in at the confluence of the Yampa River and Green rivers was initiated in 2000. The Integrated Stocking Plan was revised (Integrated Stocking Plan Revision Committee 2015) and more and larger bonytail are currently being stocked at Echo Park and/or Deerlodge.