7282

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7282
• Author: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, R. I. P.
• Title: Final Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
• USFW Year: 1987.
• USFW - Doc Type: Denver, Colorado.
• Copyright Material: NO

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3.1 INTRODUCTION
3.0 INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
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The recovery program described in this document provides a framework for
identifying and implementing a broad range of measures to aid in the recovery
of four fish species in the Upper Colorado River Basin. Recovery in the upper
basin will involve a massive, long-term program of 15 years and will succeed
only with the close cooperation of all affected parties. For this reason, the
recovery program will be carried out by the Service and a Recovery
Implementation Committee made up of representatives of several Federal
agencies, three States, water development interests, and conservation
organizations. Each of the Federal, State, and private parties identified in
this document has an important role to play in ensuring implementation of the
recovery program.
3.2 COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT
The Secretary of the Interior and the Governors of the three upper basin
States will execute a Cooperative Agreement endorsing and adopting this
program and establishing a high-level Recovery Implementation Committee
charged with overseeing implementation of the program by the Service. That
document will incorporate the terms, objectives, and undertakings of this
program and will commit each party to its timely implementation. The
Cooperative Agreement will be executed under the statutory authority of the
Endangered Species Act and other appropriate Federal and State laws.
Beyond the role of the Secretary and the Governors, it is apparent that a
commitment on the part of conservation organizations and water development
associations will be required. For that reason, interested water development
associations and conservation organizations will, concurrent with execution of
the Cooperative Agreement, enter into a Supporting Resolution that sets out
the respective parties' expectations and responsibilities for the program's
provisions.
3.3 RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

The Cooperative Agreement will establish a new Implementation Committee
pursuant to Sections 2 and 4 of the Endangered Species Act as well as other
applicable laws. This Committee will have more responsibility with management
than recovery teams which are generally biological and research-oriented
groups. The Implementation Committee will operate by consensus and will be
responsible for overseeing the implementation of this program by the Service.
For example, the Implementation Committee will be responsible for reviewing
instream flow needs provided by the Service and for recommending how best to
secure interests in property to protect those flows. Similarly, the
Implementation Committee will be responsible for assessing how public
education, hatcheries, passageways, and other measures can contribute to
recovery, guiding the research effort, and coordinating all activities.
It is expected that the first assignment of the Implementation Committee will
be to review existing activities to further specify roles, responsibilities,
funding, and staffing needs. The Implementation Committee.will also recommend
annual budget priorities and expenditures for the recovery program budget
which will be administered by the Service.
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