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e._ ..I. .. . . designation of critical habitat will interface with these programs. These programs are a cooperative effort berween the Upper Basin states, federal agencies including the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Bureau of Reclamation and the Western Area Power Admini~tration, and representatives of the environmental and water co=unities. The Secretary of the Interior and the Governors of !be Upper Basin States have approved !bese cooperative agreements to recover !be species, and we believe !be proposed rule should have been coordinated wi!b these programs and !be program participants. o ImpaCts on Other Water Systems. The proposed rule may impact !be operation of !be Colorado River System reservoirs, State and federal water projeCts and !be Colorado River and Upper Colorado Basin Compacts, as well as various federal laws and court decrees collectively known as the Law of the River. None of the seven basin states directly impacted by the proposed rule have been consulted on these issues. o Floodplain and Pool Levels. We do not believe that the 100 year floodplain of !be designed streams and the full pool elevation of designated reservoirs is based on sound biological data and studies. We also question the hydrological basis for such designations. In conclusion, !be State of Colorado believes that !be public should be given adequate time to review and comment on the biological and economic analyses before making !bis designation. Additionally, prior to any decision on !be final rule, !be Service should adequately address the comments it will receive on the proposed rule as well as those received following the review of the biological and economic analyses. The final rule should not be developed until all !be issues have been adequately addressed by !be Service, and there has been consultation with !be interested parties. Thank you again for the oppommity to make !bese comments. 2