Outline for Press Briefings: Yampa River and Endangered Fish Recovery Flow Protection by CWCB

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OUTLINE FOR PRESS BRIEFINGS Yampa River & Endangered Fish Recovery Flow Protection by CWCB October 9 -10, 1995 1. Introductions 2. Recovery Implementation Program Background A. Pre -1988 Activities & Alternatives • Colorado River Compacts, 1922 & 1948 • Colorado River Storage Projects Authorization • 1973 ESA & Regulatory Requirements • 4 Listed Fish Species • FWS Flow Recommendations in Early 1980's • Court Rulings and ESA Amendment Efforts • Status of the Endangered Fish Populations, Critical Habitat B. 1988 Agreement between CO, UT, WY, Interior, WAPA • Goal: to Recover the Endangered Fishes While Allowing Water Development to Continue • 8 Voting Participants, Consensus Decision Making • 5 Recovery Action Elements (Instream Flow Restoration & Protection, Physical Habitat Restoration and Protection, Non - Native Fish Control, Endangered Fish Reintroducion & Augmentation, and Data Collection & Research) • "Sufficient Progress:" a Marriage between Compatible but Competing Interests • CO Responsibilities to Protect Instream Flows, Manage Sportfish, Coordinate Restoration & Protection for Floodplain Habitat with Local Government & Landowners C. Colorado Benefits • Recovery is Better than Offsetting Impacts, Both for the Fish and for People (Solving the Problem, Certainty, Expenditure of Public Resources) • Protection of Property Rights: Reliance upon State Laws and State Agencies & Avoidance of Conflict • Protection of State Jurisdiction over Water and Wildlife • Stronger Influence in Planning & Implementation for State Decision Makers, Local Government, Water & Environmental Interests • 170 Water Projects (Over 120 in CO), No Litigation/Rejection 3. Significance of Yampa River in Recovering Endangered Fishes A Yampa and Green Rivers constitute the most important habitat in the Upper Colo. River Basin: • largest number of Colorado squawfish and the razorback sucker • humpback chub population is one of the few self - sustaining populations remaining in the Upper Colorado River Basin • relative abundance of these fishes indicates that habitat conditions are more favorable for recovery than in other parts of the Upper Colorado River Basin B. FWS and CDOW believe maintenance of flows which "mimic' the natural flow regime is critical.