Quantity/Quality/Wildlife Meeting January 5 1995

• Description: Quantity/Quality/Wildlife Meeting January 5 1995
• State: CO
• Date: 1/5/1995
• Title: Quantity/Quality/Wildlife Meeting January 5 1995
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Meeting

natural environment, but may broaden options for productive human
economic activity for current and future generations of
Coloradans. Both self - sustaining natural ecosystems and
sustainable economic development will be critical to the future
of Colorado. In fact, it is becoming apparent that the continued
development of our land and water resources will be increasingly
difficult without concomitant protection for Colorado's natural
environment. In particular, by avoiding the listing of
additional species as threatened or endangered under the federal
Endangered Species Act, we can retain important flexibility for
Colorado decision - making regarding the overall uses of our water
resources.
As elaborated below, DNR and DPHE encourage a public discussion
regarding the advisability of a collaborative effort among local,
state and federal agencies and the private sector, to develop and
implement a Colorado native species protection initiative. The
two Departments believe that such an initiative may provide the
best opportunity for the citizens of Colorado to control their
own destiny. Such an effort seems particularly timely and
important in view of the high growth rates that Colorado
currently is experiencing, and the further challenges that
continued growth will present in efforts to preserve our rich
natural heritage, our economic future and our quality of life.
The current citizens of Colorado have an opportunity and a
responsibility to identify a course that will meet these
challenges.
Finally, it is important to reiterate that DNR and DPHE do not
intend this initiative, if pursued, to be based on new
legislative authority or to result in the creation of new
regulatory requirements. Rather, the intent would be to
coordinate state agency resource management efforts and
authorities to achieve protection of Colorado native species a
thereby minimize the disruption caused by the imposition b-f-�
federal regulatory efforts.
II. Native Species Decline
Species and biotic communities associated with aquatic, wetland
and riparian environments both in Colorado and in ownstream
river basins fed by streams originating in Col ado have suffered
significant decline in recent years.
The causes of decline are apparently merous. By storing and
diverting water from streams for es in cities and agriculture,
by converting land from prairi and forests to other uses, by
engaging in myriad activitie which create wastes, and by
managing natural aquatic e ironments to promote recreation,
human economic enterprise and natural resource management
practices have also:
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