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0 II. THE SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS <br />A. Field Trip <br />The morning of October 5th, Colorado state representatives led a group of symposium <br />participants on a field trip of structures and facilities on the Colorado River managed for the <br />protection and recovery of endangered fishes along a fifteen -mile critical reach in the Colorado <br />River near Grand Junction. The field trip included reports from various individuals regarding the <br />significance of these features, and provided a useful context for later discussions. <br />B. Opening, Welcome and Introductions <br />Larry Anderson, Chairman of the Western States Water Council, provided the general opening, <br />welcome and introduction to the Symposium participants, expressing his hope and belief that the <br />symposium would provide a needed step towards identifying and resolving critical difficulties <br />the states are having with ESA implementation. Chuck Lile, Director of the Colorado Water <br />Conservation Board, welcomed participants on behalf of the host state. He expressed concerns <br />over the need for ESA funding, on moving the emphasis from process to actions, and the need <br />for incentives to encourage states and landowners to meet ESA goals. Jo Clark, director of <br />programs for the Western Governors' Association (WGA), welcomed participants on behalf of <br />the WGA. She mentioned the policy changes announced by Secretary Babbitt and stressed the <br />need for decentralized, proactive and flexible approaches to resolve ESA difficulties. <br />Perry Olson, Director of the Division of Wildlife for the Colorado Department of Natural <br />Resources, remarked on the extensive processes tied up with ESA implementation, commenting <br />that 80% of the funding goes to the process, whereas only 20% goes to species. Mr. Olson said <br />the best approach is to keep species from becoming endangered in the first place, but stated that <br />the problems with endangered species may be more global than local in scale. He mentioned the <br />success of two Upper Colorado River programs developed through partnerships between fish and <br />wildlife agencies, water agencies and user groups and other organizations and emphasized the <br />importance of looking for ways to build stronger bonds between agencies working toward <br />common ESA goals. <br />C. ESA Overview <br />An overview of ESA administration was next provided. Wayne Phillips, Counsel for the <br />Montana Agency of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, summarized the major provisions of the Act and a <br />useful summary of the processes generated under it. He also described several anomalies about <br />ESA implementation. For example, despite the statutory difference between endangered and <br />threatened species, agencies implementing the ESA have not distinguished between them. <br />3 <br />