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<br /> <br />ST A TE OF NEW MEXICO <br />OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER <br />SANTA FE <br /> <br />Jolm R. D'Antonio, Jr., P.E. <br />State Engineer <br /> <br />P.O. Box 15102 <br />Santa Fe, NM 87504 <br />(505)827-6091 <br /> <br />March 3, 3005 <br /> <br />The Honorable Conrad Burns, Chairman <br />The Honorable Byron Dorgan, Ranking Memher <br />Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies <br />Committee on Appropriations <br />United States Senate <br />132 Dirksen Senate Office Building <br />Washington, D.C. 2.0510 <br /> <br />Dear Chairman Burns and Ranking Member Dorgan: <br /> <br />I am writing to request your support and assistance in insuring continued funding for <br />the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River <br />Basin Recovery Implementation Program. These ongoing cooperative programs have the <br />dual objectives of recovering four species of endangered fish while water use continues and <br />water development proceeds in compliance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, state <br />law, and interstate compacts. Partners in the two programs are the States of New Mexico, <br />Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and <br />environmental interests. I respectfully request support and action by the Subcommittee that <br />will provide the following: <br /> <br />1. An increase of $691,000 in the fiscal year 2006 Recovery Element budget <br />(Resource Management Appropriation; Ecological Services Activity; Endangered Species <br />Subactivity; Recovery Element) allocated to "Colorado River fish recovery project" to allow <br />U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Region 6 to meet its funding commitment to the Upper <br />Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. This is the level of funding appropriated <br />in fiscal years 2003, 2004 and 2005 for this program. These funds are needed for FWS <br />direct participation in managing and implementing the Upper Colorado Program's actions, <br />monitoring achievement of recovery goals, managing data associated with fish population <br />abundance and sampling; evalLiating stocking, and monitoring fish and habitat response to <br />recovery actions. <br /> <br />2. The appropriation of $437,000 in operation and maintenance funds (Resource <br />Management Appropriation; Fisheries Activity; Hatchery Operations & Maintenance <br />Subactivity, Hatchery Operations Project) to support the ongoing operation of the FWS' <br />Ouray National Fish Hatchery in Utah during fiscal year 2006. <br />