1995 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin

• Description: 1995 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin
• State: CO
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 5/16/1995
• Title: 1995 Washington, D.C. Briefing Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

STATE OF COLORADO
EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS
136 State Capitol
Denver, Colorado 80203 -1792
Phone [phone]
September 6, 1994
Bruce Babbitt
Secretary.of.Interior
Interior - Building
1845 C St., N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20240
Dear Secretary Babbitt:
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Roy Romer
Governor
The Colorado River Endangered Fishes- Recovery
Implementation Program is now in its sixth year. As you
are aware, this program is a cooperative venture designed -
to recover the endangered fish in the Upper Colorado
River Basin and is a model for the nation. Parties to
the program. include U.S. Fish_ and Wildlife Service,
Bureau of Reclamation, Western Area Power Administration,
States of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming, environmental
organizations, water users, and power users This
program is in the process of recovering endangered fish
species within the context of interstate compacts and
state water law, while water development continues in
compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Cost sharing
for this program is provided by power users, water users,
and the states.
Beginning in fiscal year 94, the Recovery Program
embarked upon implementation of a number of capital
projects. These include fish passages, restoration of
flooded bottomlands, modification of water management
facilities to provide water for endangered fishes,
coordinated reservoir operations, genetic refugia -, and
endangered fish augmentation facilities needed to recover
the endangered fish. For fiscal year 95, you recommended
an appropriation of $4.7 million for these projects as a
budget item for U.S. Bureau of Reclamation's Upper
Colorado Region.
The states, water users, and environmentalists associated
with the Recovery Program have actively supported the
appropriation of these funds by Congress, and have
succeeded in having those appropriations included in the
Department of the Interior budget passed by the House of
Representatives. Since its inception, the Recovery
Program.has enjoyed bipartisan congressional support (see
attached letters).
Appendix A -1-