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Y~,Hf OF <br />~~4~ ~, ~~a ~ - Public Affairs Office <br />~_~~_~~~-~,~ --- News Release Abuq~erque6NM87103 <br />~'4~H 3.,gd ° ~~. „~ ,,,.~F 505/248-6911 <br />505/248-6915 (Fax) <br />Southwest Region (Arizona .New Mexico • Oklahoma .Texas) http://www.fws.gov/southwest/ <br />For Release: December 1, 2006 <br />Contacts: David Campbell 505-761-4745 or Elizabeth Sloven 505-248-6909 <br />SECRETARY KEMPTHORNE JOINS WESTERN STATE AND TRIBAL <br />GOVERNORS TO EXTEND PROGRAM TO <br />RECOVER ENDANGERED FISH IN THE SAN JUAN RIVER <br />The Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne joined the governors of the States of Colorado and New <br />Mexico as well as representatives of the Navajo Nation, Jicarilla Apache Nation, Southern Ute <br />Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe to renew their commitment to a nationally <br />recognized program that is working to recover endangered fishes in the San Juan River while <br />water development proceeds in accordance with state and federal laws. <br />These leaders signed an extension of a cooperative agreement for the San Juan River Basin <br />Recovery Implementation Program that will extend the Recovery Program through 2023. The <br />extension will ensure the continued cooperative work to recover the endangered Colorado <br />pikeminnow and razorback sucker while future water development occurs for agricultural, <br />hydroelectric and municipal uses in the San Juan River Basin. <br />"The extension of the cooperative agreement demonstrates the commitment of the States and <br />Tribes to seeing the San Juan River Recovery Program succeed," said New Mexico State <br />Administrator Brian Millsap. "These partners have put their faith in the program since it was <br />established 14 years ago. They have worked closely together to develop creative and effective <br />ways to meet the dual goals of endangered species recovery and water development." <br />Established in 1992, the Recovery Program is a voluntary, cooperative program involving Native <br />American tribes, federal and state agencies, and water development interests in Colorado and New <br />Mexico. <br />The main goals implemented through the program are to conserve populations of the Colorado <br />pikeminnow and the razorback sucker, and to continue with the water development in the Basin in <br />compliance with Federal and state laws, interstate compacts, Supreme Court decrees and federal <br />trust responsibilities to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Jicarilla Apache <br />Nation and the Navajo Nation. <br />