Laserfiche WebLink
<br />uJu91.8 <br /> <br />The first phase of the study will identify as many potential options as possible for supplying the <br />additional water, which biologists believe is necessary for the fish to survive. A committee of state and <br />federal water officials and water user representatives, along with a team of consultants, has been meeting <br />since October 1998, The group has developed a list of more than 25 alternatives for consideration. <br />Comments received during the September public meetings, including additional options, will help the <br />committee assure that all potential options have been identified and recommend which options subject to <br />a more detailed and in-depth analysis during the second phase of the study, The study is scheduled to be <br />completed by December 2000. <br />As a participant in the multi-state, multi-jurisdictional Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish <br />Recovery Program, the State of Colorado is obligated to help provide and protect streamtlows needed by <br />four fish species protected under the federal Endangered Species Act, The species are the pikeminnow <br />(formerly Colorado squawfish), humpback chub, razorback sucker and boneytail. <br />The coordinated facilities study is one of several recovery program actions designed to find ways <br />to deliver sufficient water at specific times without compromising Colorado's ability to fully develop its <br />share of water under the interstate Colorado River and Upper Colorado River compacts. <br />Alternatives identified in the coordinated facilities study must work in concert with other tlow- <br />related recovery actions. Colorado's ability to protect existing and future consumptive human uses of <br />Colorado River water without being subject to project-by-project federal regulatory reviews is dependent <br />upon the success of a programmatic biological opinion the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is expected to <br />issue this fall. The coordinated facilities study will be an integral part of the reasonable and prudent <br />alternative identified in the programmatic biological opinion. <br />### <br />