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

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November 12, 1997 The Honorable Robert F. Bennett 431 Dirksen Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Bennett: For the past nine years, members of the Utah Congressional Delegation have been asked to support annual appropriations for the Recovery Program for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado Basin, stressing the importance of the program to the continued use and development of Utah's Colorado River water resources. This cooperative program is now at a critical juncture. Original estimates of funding needed to achieve recovery have proven to be overly optimistic, and both administration and congressional staff have informed Upper Colorado RIP participants that legislative authorization will be necessary to insure continued federal appropriations. As you are aware, the Upper Colorado RIP represents one of the relatively few "success stories" associated with implementation of the Endangered Species Act- this is in large part due to agreement among all participants that no major action will be taken without consensus. Developing authorizing language that would not trigger formal opposition from any party was difficult and time- consuming, but we believe the draft which has been developed is totally acceptable to Utah, and will be supported by Colorado and Wyoming, water using groups, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Western Area Power Administration. We know of no environmental group that intends to oppose the present draft. The draft legislation authorizes $75 million for the Upper Basin RIP and $19 million for the San Juan RIP, for a total of $120 million. (Although Utah has chosen not to be a participant in the San. Juan effort, we feel that inclusion of that program in the legislation was essential to passage.) Of this amount, non - federal sources will provide over $60 million, with the states' share expected to be $17 million. (As of this date, final agreement on allocations among Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming have not been reached.) State of Utah 0 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES 1844 Welt Nenh Temple, Suite 0710 Sa 14MIO Michael 0.748vttt W LaW City, Utah i411VW10 Gverm 80100.7200 I Tnd Strw*re 801- 538-7818 (Fax) 8xmtdve Director 801.638 7468 JDD) November 12, 1997 The Honorable Robert F. Bennett 431 Dirksen Senate Building Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Senator Bennett: For the past nine years, members of the Utah Congressional Delegation have been asked to support annual appropriations for the Recovery Program for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado Basin, stressing the importance of the program to the continued use and development of Utah's Colorado River water resources. This cooperative program is now at a critical juncture. Original estimates of funding needed to achieve recovery have proven to be overly optimistic, and both administration and congressional staff have informed Upper Colorado RIP participants that legislative authorization will be necessary to insure continued federal appropriations. As you are aware, the Upper Colorado RIP represents one of the relatively few "success stories" associated with implementation of the Endangered Species Act- this is in large part due to agreement among all participants that no major action will be taken without consensus. Developing authorizing language that would not trigger formal opposition from any party was difficult and time- consuming, but we believe the draft which has been developed is totally acceptable to Utah, and will be supported by Colorado and Wyoming, water using groups, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Western Area Power Administration. We know of no environmental group that intends to oppose the present draft. The draft legislation authorizes $75 million for the Upper Basin RIP and $19 million for the San Juan RIP, for a total of $120 million. (Although Utah has chosen not to be a participant in the San. Juan effort, we feel that inclusion of that program in the legislation was essential to passage.) Of this amount, non - federal sources will provide over $60 million, with the states' share expected to be $17 million. (As of this date, final agreement on allocations among Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming have not been reached.)