1996 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin

• Description: 1996 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 3/18/1996
• Title: 1996 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Meeting

Long -term funding legislation
For the upper Colorado River and San Juan River
Recovery Programs
The success of the Recovery Program will depend to a large extent on obtaining sufficient funds
to implement recovery activities identified the Recovery Action Plan. The cost for implementing
the Recovery Program is estimated at $60 to $112 million through the year 2003. About two- thirds
of the funding will be needed to implement a variety of capital projects such as building fish lad-
ders, acquiring water and water rights, acquiring and restoring flood plain habitats used by endan-
gered fish, and constructing additional hatchery facilities.
In October 1994, the Recovery Program's Implementation Committee formed an ad hoc commit-
tee to develop a long -term funding strategy for the Recovery Program. The San Juan River
Recovery Program was also invited to participate in the discussions because of its critical linkage
to the Colorado River Storage Projects. Participants in the discussions have included the States of
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming; water, power and environmental groups; several
Indian tribes; and the Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power
Administration, and Bureau of Indian Affairs. In addition, staff from the House Resources
Committee and the Utah and Colorado Congressional delegations have been involved in several
of the committee's meetings.
A Bill has been drafted that is currently being reviewed by stakeholders in the Upper Basin. The
Bill will provide specific authorization for the Upper Basin and San Juan River recovery programs
and provide for a mechanism to fund the programs through the year 2003 and 2007, respectively.
Major issues being addressed include potential funding sources and funding mechanisms and
cost - sharing by program participants, including Federal and State agencies, power users and water
users. It is anticipated that the Bill will be presented to Congress in June 1996.
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