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STATE OF NEW MEXICO OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER SANTA FE March 3, 2005 P.O. Box 25102 Santa Fe, NM 87504 15051827-6091 John R. D'Antonio, Jr., P.E. State Engineer The Honorable Charles H. Taylor, Chairman The Honorable Norman D. Dicks, Ranking Member Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations United States House of Representatives B-308 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515-6023 Dear Chairman Taylor and Representative Dicks: I am writing to request your support and assistance in insuring continued funding for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. These ongoing cooperative programs have the dual objectives of recovering four species of endangered fish while water use continues and water development proceeds in compliance with the Endangered Species Act of 1973, state law, and interstate compacts. Partners in the two programs are the States of New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, Indian tribes, federal agencies and water, power and environmental interests. I respectfully request support and action by the Subcommittee that will provide the following: 1. An increase of $691,000 in the fiscal year 2006 Recovery Element budget (Resource Management Appropriation; Ecological Services Activity; Endangered Species Subactivity; Recovery Element) allocated to "Colorado River fish recovery project" to allow U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) Region 6 to meet its funding commitment to the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program. This is the level of funding appropriated infiscal years 2003,2004 and 2005 for this program. These funds are needed for FWS direct participation in managing and implementing the Upper Colorado Program's actions, monitoring achievement of recovery goals, managing data associated with fish population abundance and sampling, evaluating stocking, and monitoring fish and habitat response to recovery actions. 2. The appropriation of $437,000 in operation and maintenance funds (Resource Management Appropriation; Fisheries Activity; Hatchery Operations & Maintenance Subactivity, Hatchery Operations Project) to support the ongoing operation of the FWS' Ouray National Fish Hatchery in Utah during fiscal year 2006. 3. The allocation of $211,000 in "recovery" funds for the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program to the FWS for fiscal year 2006 to meet FWS's Region 2 expenses associated with program management and implementing the San Juan Program's actions.