Centennial Wetlands Native Aquatice Species Prospective Recovery Satellite Facility

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G. Christian Crosby 210 Garfield St. Denver, CO 80206 (303) 322 -5353 Members of The Centennial Task Force: 2/28/95 The purpose of this letter is to communicate to you summary information about the Endangered Species Act listing possibilities along the South Platte which I have received during the last two years by attending meetings and talking to those who devote a good part of their job to this topic. The meetings have pertained to the Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program for listed fish (squawfish, razorback sucker, humpback chub and bonytail chub), the Platte River recovery endangered species negotiations with Nebraska, Wyoming, and the Federal government and the South Platte basin listing prevention efforts. The individuals with whom I have had the most discussion, and their phone numbers in case you might want to talk to them in more detail are: Doug Robotham (Colo. Dept. Natural Resources - 866 - 3311), Eddie Kochman (Colo. Division of Wildlife, Aquatic Manager - 291- 7356), Peter Evans (Colo. Water Conservation Board - 866- 3441), and Lee Carlson ( USFWS Ecological Service - 231 - 5280). The gist of it is that these men and many others are doing virtually everything they can to prevent a threatened or endangered listing along the Platte. The enormous cost in time and money ($50 to $100 million plus or minus) to date and projected for the endangered fish recovery on the Colorado has demonstrated the need to be proactive and to protect and restore species at risk and their habitat so that listing is not needed. Preliminary data indicates that several species along the Platte are in decline and conceivably could be listed in which case such new listing (s) could be far more disruptive in this watershed because many more people are involved and water is managed more tightly. Presently, DOW is about half way through an inventory of the small fish populations on the eastern plains and expects to complete the research this summer. Thus far they have found 7 or 8 small minnow populations most of which are at risk. The plains topminnow is already on the 11/15/94 USFWS candidate list for species of concern and if it slips further it could require federal listing. Encouragingly, DOW is close to a conservation agreement with USFWS and other agencies to protect and restore the boreal toad up in the high country. DOW is leading the effort to determine the population status, likely causes and remedied steps. Negotiations are well underway with Nebraska and Wyoming to determine how to recover four listed species (whooping crane, piping plover, least tern, pallid sturgeon) in Nebraska which are affected by water development. It is wise also to protect our native species which are not this far at risk. DNR is working closely with all water users in an effort to deal with the declining species by developing proactive strategies to avoid new listings and the resulting regulatory consequences. One of the goals is to absolve the water users/developers from the obligation to provide water in order to avoid jeopardy opinions. Their next meeting is a workshop on March 15, agenda and registration form enclosed, public is invited, especially participants such as the Task Force members. How might Centennial help protect and restore native aquatic species to prevent federal listings along the Platte? 1) The numerous 1/2 acre to 20 acre ponds could serve as hatcheries or grow out ponds to raise millions of the various at risk minnows for release along the river in warm water sloughs, ponds and the river itself. Fish from these ponds would be stocked in other areas to maintain declining populations. 2) The recharge credits earned by the Goodrich Farm water decree on the property (approx. 450 acre feet per year) could be used to augment the river for new warm water sloughs and/or gravel pit type ponds which could be dug along the river bottom on other DOW State Wildlife acres downstream. These new water areas could serve as state managed release points for the pond - raised minnows as well as for other wildlife and people purposes. The timing of all of these related situations is rather perplexing with multiple programs moving simultaneously, but slowly. While most of those involved recognize the need to protect native species to avoid further listings and also see that Centennial could be quite helpful in preventing a listing, they haven't quite gotten far enough along in the whole planning process to say "Yes, buy Centennial". And while the planning process moves ahead as fast as humanly possible, the two properties with the ponds and water rights are being actively marketed in Denver and nationally by highly motivated sellers and could be put under a sales contract at any time. The key step necessary for a DOW purchase is state legislative approval during the current session which ends in early May. Centennial Wetlands could play an important role in protecting and restoring native aquatic species in order to lessen the chance of federal listings.