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pation in the Recovery Implementation Program of the Endangered Fish <br />Species of the Upper Colorado River Basin. <br />BACKGROUND <br />The Recovery Implementation Prog_r.-M- <br />In the late 1970's, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) determined that new <br />water projects could jeopardize the continued existence of listed endangered <br />fish species. This determination threatened to embroil interested parties in a <br />confrontation which was likely to delay progress toward recovery of the listed <br />species and create uncertainty for future water resources development. To <br />avoid this, an Upper Colorado River Basin Coordinating Committee was <br />formed in 1984 to identify reasonable alternatives that would preserve the <br />species while permitting water resources development to proceed. The <br />Committee identified five areas of activities which they felt were needed to <br />protect and recover endangered fish species in the Upper Colorado River <br />Basin. One of these activities is habitat development and maintenance, of <br />which, flow is a crucial element. The Recovery Implementation Program is <br />overseen by the Implementation Committee consisting of representatives of <br />environmental and water user groups. In January. 1988, the Governors of <br />Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming; the Administrator of the Western Area Power <br />Administration; and the Secretary of the Interior executed a cooperative <br />agreement to carry out the activities of the Recovery Implementation Program. <br />Grand Valley Water Managment Study <br />The Grand Valley Water Management Study consists of three areas; technical, <br />institutional, and legal. Improved system efficiency is only possible with the <br />success in all three areas. This paper will not delve into technical and legal <br />issues but will look at some institutional issues. The beneficiaries of the <br />proposed improvements are the endangered fish with the water users realizing <br />some indirect benefits through further system improvements. <br />General <br />The 15-Mile Reach provides significant in that it is habitat for at least two <br />endangered fish species. Flows necessary for recovery have been identified in <br />the reach; however, decreed irrigation diversions immediately upstream from <br />the reach frequently deplete these flows below recovery thresholds. <br />It appears that modification and improvement of the Government Highline <br />Canal system will facilitate enhanced water management and provide additional