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Endangered Species Under the Endangered Species Act, four Colorado River native fish species are listed as endangered: Colorado pikeminnow (a.k.a. Colo- rado squawfish), humpback chub, bony tail chub, and razorback sucker. Causes for the decline of these species include alteration of stream flows by water projects, introduction of non-native species and efforts to remove the native fish from the system in the past. In 1988, the States of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming; water users; hydro- power customers; environmental organizations; and federal agencies developed a program to recover these species while allowing water use and development to continue. The Recovery Program for Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado River Basin is designed to achieve recovery by (1) improving flow conditions by adding water to the river when needed by the fish, (2) improving and devloping habitat, (3) reducing non- native fish populations, and (4) devel- oping native fish stocking programs. Implementation of the Recovery Program should allow Colorado to fully develop its entitlement to water under the compact. Source: Colorado Water Conservation Board " ,::, . :r{-"~ - . . . - ~I 'lJl~"" .. - ~ ~ ,,L 1'"..- -- ~ -1=--..-L""""""':" J~ - ~- V~I Compact Facts Colorado River Compact of 1922 Allocates 7.5 million acre-feet (mat) of consumptive use annually to (1) the Upper Colorado River Basin (those parts of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming above Lee Ferry, Arizona) and (2) the Lower Colorado River Basin (those parts of Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah below Lee Ferry, Arizona). This Compact requires the Upper Colorado River Basin to deliver an average of 75 maf to the Lower Basin during any consecutive 10-year period. The Lower Basin may increase its consumptive use by 1.0 maf in the future. Rio Grande, Colorado and Tijuana Treaty of 1944 between the United States and Mexico Guarantees delivery of 1.5 maf of Colorado River water per year to Mexico. If ~ere is not adequate surplus water to satisfy the obligation, the Upper and Lower Bas1ns are to equally share the burden of reducing uses to make up any deficiencies. Upper Colorado River Basin Compact of 1948 Allocates the Upper Basin consumptive use of water as follows: Arizona 50,000 acre-feet/year Colorado 51.750/0 U~h 23% Wyoming 140/0 New Mexico 11.250/0 Additionally, the State of Colorado may not deplete the flow in the Yampa River below an aggregate of 5 maf over any 10-year period. Depending upon the interpretation of the Compacts, other laws, and the amount of water in the river, Colorado's right to the consumptive use of water under the compacts may range from 3.079 maf to 3.855 maf per year. Colorado currently consumes an average of 2.3 maf per year with facilities in place using up to 2.6 mat Colorado's apportionment has not been divided among the various sub-basins within the state. The Yampa and La Plata River Basins have specific delivery obligations under the Compacts. The allocation and administration of any surpluses and shortages under the Compacts within Colorado remain open to discussion but ultimately will be subject to determination and administration by the State Engineer. Humpback chub Unique Characteristics 4 Presence of the Aspinall Unit of the Colorado River Storage Project. Uncertainty of river administration because of the endangered species and federal water rights claims. Blue Mesa Reservoir (Photo courtesy of Holley Noon) ( Gunnison River Basin Facts - 4 )