Briefing Paper to Accompany the Proposed Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1997

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The escalation in program costs has also led the Bureau of Reclamation to conclude that it must seek greater cost sharing from the participating states to ensure the continued viability of these programs through the remainder of their 15 -year terms, ending in 2003 and 2007 respectively. The proposed legislation The bill authorizes the appropriation of $60 million for capital projects under the Upper Colorado Endangered Fish Recovery Program and the San Juan Recovery Implementation Program. Appropriations for the Upper Colorado River Program are authorized through the year 2003; and appropriations for the San Juan River Program are authorized through the year 2007. The bill also contemplates cost - sharing among program participants. The federal government would pay 50 percent (the Bureau of Reclamation heretofore has been funding 100 percent of the capital cost of the projects to implement the Upper Colorado River program like building fish ladders and acquiring flooded bottom lands where the fish thrive. Due to the heavy impact on Indian water development and Indian trust lands, the Bureau of Indian Affairs has shared the funding of the recovery efforts in the San Juan River Basin and would likely have responsibility for much of the construction of capital projects in the future). Under the bill, non - federal parties like the states and those who purchase power from federal hydroelectric projects will pay the remaining 50 percent, which includes the cost of re- operating the Flaming Gorge Dam and a lease of water for program purposes by the state of Colorado. Unlike other efforts to recover endangered species, these programs have a definite price tag. While the four endangered fish species will not have been recovered by the time the program ends, because they mature slowly and results may not been seen for many years, all the capital projects thought necessary for recovery thus far, will have been authorized for funding. Explanation of cost sharing proposal contemplated in the bill The capital cost for the two programs is $120 million, split between federal and non- federal program participants. The bill also authorizes base funding for operations and maintenance in addition to the amount authorized for capital projects. Several capital construction activities are already under way or are being planned to benefit the fish species. These activities include the dedication of flows from the Flaming Gorge Dam, which is estimated to cost $3.4 million per year for the period 1999 -2003, resulting in total cost to power consumers of $17 million; and the purchase of water from the Bureau of Reclamation (Ruedi Reservoir -- $6 million) and from the Colorado Water Conservation District (Wolford Mountain -- $4 million) for a total of $27 million. If one deducts these expenses from the total non - federal commitment of $60 million, non-