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On', f"',') O.LJ. , . s{'J-Y ~_!_.~--- paper es water THE WEEKLY NEWSLElTER OF THE WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201 /942 East 7145 So. / Midvale, Utah 84047 / (SOl) 561-5300 / FAX (SOl) 255-9642 Chairman - Dave Kennedy; Executive Director - Craig Bell; Editor - Ricky S. Torrey; Typist - Carrie Curvin ENVIRONMENT Endangered Species ACl/Memorandum of Agreement Regarding the Platte River . - . The Department of Interior has announced that Secretary Bruce Babbitt and the governors of Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming have reached a broad consensus" on a process to provide certainty in water supplies, protect wildlife habitat, and help prevent the listing of additional endangered species on the Platte River Basin," The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signals, according to the press release, a "dramatic change from recent years of gridlock and lawsuits to a cooperative effort between governments intent on solving the many Platte River resource issues." Governor Nelson (NB) lauded the basin-wide approach to developing a recovery plan for endangered species and the parties' consensus that the burden for the species' recovery rests with all three states. Secretary Babbin, recognizing thai western water issues are extremely contentious, acknowledged that "without a consistent supply of water, many western business simply don't have the certainty they need to plan for the future. This agreement helps bring a degree of certainty to each of the states." Representatives of environmental, community, and water user organizations and federal agencies will be invited to participate in the planning process. The MOA wiil serve as the framework for negotiations on a basin-wide recovery plan. The process will address ongoing consultation on dealing with streamflow in the Platte River and possible development of future water projects within the River basin. The MOA wiil be in effect for one year, unless terminated by one of the signatories. Affected species include the interior least tern, piping plover, whooping crane, bald eagle, and pallid sturgeon. . CoIoralio RiverlEi1dangered Species Act The Endangered Species Act is generating impacts on water resources which are of increasing concern to Western states. For example, recent designation of critical habitat for four endangered fish - - the Colorado squawfish, humpback chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sucker -- has resulted in special protection for 1,980 miles of the Colorado River and its tributaries. The full impact of this designation wiil not be known for several months. However, Bureau of Reclamation spokesman Robert Walsh said that this critical habitat designation might make it more difficult for Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming to develop new water projects. Mr. Walsh also said the critical habitat designation could result in changes to Bureau hydropower operations, particularly for Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam is a "peaking" hydropower facility on the Colorado River designed to meet snM:-term, high energi demands. Maintaining water levels required for the fishes' critical habitat may ultimately limit utilities' ability to meet peak demand with this source of electricity. Fish and WildlWe Longstanding "fish wars" are intensnying between the United States and Canada. At stake is the $1 billion salmon industry that has been an economic mainstay for the region. This year, both Washington and Oregon have closed their commercial fisheries because of concern over vanishing salmon runs. Canada blames the U.S. for depleting the salmon breeding stock, claiming that excessive American fishing in Alaskan waters is intercepting too many fish before they can return to spawn in Canadian rivers. Salmon schools headed back to Canada are netted