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<br />~~~ ~~ ~~ ~~-~~ ~~~~-~~~~~r.~ ~ ~~~~.~ r~ <br /> <br />~1J;;w''''w'''SWlCJ.;;;;:J'''' <br /> <br />rMU.r. "':''''''*''*0 <br /> <br />0003?,S <br /> <br />reinstated. Reinstatement can occur if the QSA is signed, orifCalifomia takes sUch actions as are <br />required by the Department. <br /> <br />For those who rest hope on the "all required actions" option in the Guidelines, you should be aware that <br />the actions that will be required must be real and permanent. <br /> <br />It makes no sense to respond to a failure to rneet the first deadline in the Seven States agreement by <br />lessening the requirements for enhanced access to surplus water. To the contrary, the bar will be raised. <br /> <br />The Department win also be carefully considering all of these issues in the COUfSe of acting on the <br />pending water orders for 2003. In this context. the Department may take other steps to ensure that all <br />requirements of the Decree of the United States Supreme Court are met. <br /> <br />Finally, as noted in our Federal Register notice last summerJ we are aware of the impact of a suspension <br />of the enhanced surplus on Nevada. We will continue our discussions with Nevada and the other basin <br />states to address this issue. We understand the equity issues, and are wrestling with the legal issues <br />associated with separating Nevada's future from the consequences of California's actions. <br /> <br />The California 4.4 plan is not the only issue affecting the ColOIado River. Our treaty obligations with <br />Mexico, the Endangered Species Act', and Indian Water settlements axe also important. <br /> <br />We share the Coloxado River with the Republic of Mexico. We also share the Rio Grande with Mexico, <br />and the 1944 Treaty defines each nation's rights to water from these rivers. <br /> <br />Secretary of State powell and Y, along with other senior memb~ of the Administration. met with our <br />counterparts from Mexico in Mexico City late last month and discussed those treaty obligations. <br /> <br />As you know, Mexico wants more water from the Colorado River. But as we explained to our friends in <br />Mexico, the demands on the River for uses in the United States are increasing. <br /> <br />We do not have extra water to send across the border. As Secretary Powell explained, "We are <br />commined to upholding our water treaty obligations." We will continue to do so. We expect the <br />Republic of Mexico to do the same. <br /> <br />We are working with the International Boundary and Water Commission on effortS to support the recently <br />adopted Minute 306 to the 1944 Treaty. Three of our Interior agencies - the U.S. Geological Survey, the <br />Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Bureau ofReclaination- are engaged with Mexico on a variety of <br />tasks. They include vegetation mapping and habitat restoration. <br /> <br />We will continue to work in a cooperative fashion with the Republic of Mexico on Colorado and Rio <br />Grande River issues. <br /> <br />We also take very seriously The requirements of the federal Endangered Species Act in the course of <br />managing the Colorado River. Yes, the Act has caused contlict in other river basins, but we are working <br />very hard with our partners in the Colorado River basin ~o find success instead of conflict. The good <br />news is there are Endangered Species Act success stories that demonstrate the value of consultation and <br />cooperation. <br /> <br />The first example of success is the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. I've been <br />involved with this program for a long time. I was a young attorney at Interior when the process began. It <br /> <br />CRWUA - Dee, 16.2002 <br /> <br />Page 4 of 7 <br />