7805

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 7805
• Author: Colorado River Wildlife Council.
• Title: Minutes, Colorado River Fish & Wildlife Council.
• USFW Year: 1988.
• USFW - Doc Type: July 9, 1988.
• Copyright Material: NO

a
committee formally again recommends the council reconsider and allow the use
of triploid grass carp as stated in the council's policy.
. Will Geer then requested that the technical committee members present provide.
by the business meeting this afternoon a language for an action item that
would adequately address the triploid and diploid separation for action by
the council.
Coordinated Resource Management Planning
Chairman Geer introduced Mr. Kent Smith, California Department of Fish & Game
to address the council on the concept of coordinated resource management
planning for riverine and other habitats along the river system.
Mr. Smith described his role with the California department with two
. different responsibilities: the state program manager for non-game programs
and as representative for a fourteen agency agreement called called
Coordinated Resource Management Planning. In connection with his non-game
job, he has worked with the problems presented along the Lower Colorado River
and been involved with talks between Arizona, Nevada, the Bureau of
Reclamation and the Fish & Wildlife Service. It rapidly became apparent
concerns were more than just endangered birds and fish, but were for
habitats. There were concerns also for backwater areas which have
historically supported high quality, recreational fishery opportunities. It
became obvious that a system similar to California Coordinated Resource
Management Planning would provide an opportunity for coordinated planning and
the greatest ability to successfully pool ideas and resources to produce
something positive for these resources.
The planning process looks at large blocks of land, most often multiple
ownership and often different management, philosophies and responsibilities
as a unit and planning cooperatively based on the interests, responsibilities
and authorities for those blocks of land. When planning for large blocks,
one can then plan for the diverse use of any resources that occur. With the
general acceptance of this concept by the people involved, it was decided
that the greatest need and interest was looking at riperian and backwater
areas. The first large block selected was the Lower Colorado River from Lake
Mojave to the international border. The California department is putting out
a considerable amount of funding for the opportunity to coordinate a planning
approach and may add to that in a future effort. Key habitat areas on both
sides of the river are identified and site descriptions written for those
habitat areas. It is planned those site descriptions will then be used as a
basis for bringing the whole concept to meetings where all interests are
involved. So far, the only players have been the agencies. Other key
players that need to be involved in this are local communities, Arizona state
lands, California state lands, Indian lands and several others. Those other
players are currently being identified.
This concept was, presented in April, 1988 to a tri-city meeting of
commissioners from Arizona, Nevada and California. Subsequent to that
meeting, each of these commissions supported a resolution in support of the
.
Coordinated Resource Management and Planning approach on the Lower Colorado
River. At about the same time, the concept was presented to the Colorado
River Wildlife Council Technical Committee, which unanimously endorsed ti-.e
idea of sending a resolution to this council in support of the CRP effort on

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