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

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b. The Council has been particularly successful with issues which set
direction or mutual agreement on Colorado River regional issues such as fish
disease certification, hatchery construction, introductions of wildlife; where
a Colorado River regional voice is needed on national issues to get proper
consideration for the drainages' resources; and as regional wildlife support
for issues being faced by a single state such as federal hatchery closures,
water quality vs. fisheries and mitigation policies.
c. In accomplishing its business, the Council will only be as successful as
its prestige, creditability, business-like manner and correct decisions can
make it; therefore, everything must be done to increase prestige and
creditability, including personal bearing, meetings, protocol. The Council
directors must be in attendance along with regional director counter-parts of
the federal cooperating agencies. Assistant directors attending will mean
assistant regional federal representatives and all actions will be contingent
upon higher approval. Meetings should be open with public and floor
discussion opportunities, but in a business-like setting. Federal directors •
will want their staff support present. CRWC staff should be present. Meeting
locations and times can be up to the Council, but should be so that
accommodations are available for the above representation.
d. Council organization structure was discussed at length, and the various
problems and long-term troubles and their causes were reviewed in context of •
organization. Two conclusions were arrived at - one in organizational
structure and one in organizational continuity.
1- The committee recommended seriously investigating the Colorado River
Water Users Association. They have the same problems with their
membership being largely "volunteer". They deal with the same area in r
size and complexity of agencies, the same river system as a thread, and
the same regional differences. Their membership is composed of municipal
commissioners, state water development agencies, federal cooperators and
individual irrigation districts. They have a several day annual meeting
in Las Vegas with subsequent special meetings. It appears particular '
government agencies, such as U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, are partners in
administration and financial support, and may be the backbone of the
organization. They have been very successful.
The Council should consider looking for other similar organizations and
studying their approach to these problems. Also, consider the approach .
of a "regional commission" organization, through the auspices of D-J
administrative funding as discussed during the April 1987 meeting.
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