9417

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 9417
• Author: U.S. Department of the Interior.
• Title: Final Environmental Assessment
• USFW Year: 1998.
• USFW - Doc Type: Acquisition and Enhancement of Floodplain Habitats along the Upper Colorado, Green, and Gunnison Rivers as part of the Recovery Program for Endangered Colorado River Fishes.
• Copyright Material: NO

I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I'
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I
I

Henry Maddlix
Director,
Recovery Program

UPPER COIORAID RIVER
ENDANGERED FISH
RECOVERY PRffiRAM

Ralph Morgenweck
Chairman.
Implementation Committee

U.S. FISh and Wildlife Service · P.O. Box 25486 · Denver Federal Center . Denver, CO 80225 · [phone] · Fax [phone]

Fact sheet,

Riverside wetlands and endangered fish recovery

Proposal to acquire wetland habitat for endangered fish

Federal agencies (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Bureau of Reclamation) have developed a
proposal to acquire access to riverside wetlands as endangered fish habitat. Under this proposal,
federal agencies would develop agreements or purchase easements from willing landowners to
protect or enhance existing wetlands or floodplains and allow access to the property for scientific
study and monitoring. This effort is aimed at property immediately adjacent to the river in areas
where floodihg is most likely to occur. Through the Upper Colorado River Recovery Program,
levees already have been breached at several sites on federal lands in Utah. Approximately $1
million has been set aside for this purpose in fiscal year 1998.

Some key points of this initiative are:

The project is strictly voluntary. Landowners are under no obligation to participate but
would be compensated at fair market value for property rights if they choose to sell.

The preferred agreements would involve using easements, not actually buying the land.
This would allow original landowners to maintain their property title. Other activities such
as grazing, farming, fishing and hunting would be allowed on the property as long as these
actions did not harm endangered fish.

Landowners would not be required to provide public access to their land.

The project would help achieve progress toward recovery of endangered fish, which in turn
would allow the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming to develop more water for human
purposes while complying with the Endangered Species Act

The proposed project would involve acquisition of up to 5,750 acres along the Green
River; 3,500 acres along the Colorado River; and 750 along the Gunnison River.

U.S. FISh and Wildlife Service · U.S. Bureau of Reclamation · Westem Area Power Administration · Colorado · Utah · Wyoming
Environmental Defense Fund · National Audubon Society · Colorado Wildlife Federation · Wyoming Wildlife Federation
Colorado Water Congress · Utah Water Users Association . Wyoming Water Development Association · Colorado River Energy Distributors Association