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Hamlet J. Barry III <br />Manager <br />Denver Water <br />303 - 628 - 6500/303- 628 -6199 fax <br />Chips.Barry@denverwater.org <br />April 20, 2007 <br />Representative Grace F. Napolitano, Chairwoman <br />House Subcommittee on Water and Power <br />House Natural Resources Committee <br />1324 Longworth House Office Building <br />Washington, D.C. 20515 <br />Dear Representative Napolitano: <br />I am requesting your support for H.R. 1462, the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program <br />and Pathfinder Modification Authorization Act, scheduled for hearing on Thursday, April 26, <br />2007, which will authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the implementation of <br />the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program (Program) for Endangered Species in the <br />Central and Lower Platte River basin and to modify the Pathfinder Dam and Reservoir. <br />The States of Nebraska, Wyoming, and Colorado and the U. S. Department of the Interior have <br />entered into a comprehensive basin -wide Program to address habitat needs of endangered and <br />threatened species in the Central and Lower Platte River basin. This cooperative basin -wide <br />approach is an equitable and effective means to resolve conflicts and provide greater certainty <br />that the Platte River will continue as a reliable water source for both wildlife and the many <br />people who reside and use water in the basin. The proposed Program will allow water use and <br />development activities in each of the three states to continue, in compliance with the Endangered <br />Species Act (ESA). <br />For Colorado, the Program will provide regulatory compliance under the ESA for both existing <br />and prospective new water uses within the South Platte River basin. This compliance is needed <br />for water providers to meet the water supply needs of the urban, agricultural, and industrial <br />sectors of this rapidly changing and growing part of the state. <br />Additionally, we request your support and assistance in ensuring federal funding for the Platte <br />River Recovery Implementation Program. This cooperative Program has the objective of <br />recovering three species of threatened or endangered birds and one endangered fish while <br />allowing water use to continue and water development to proceed in compliance with the ESA. <br />We respectfully request support and assistance by the Subcommittee to fund this vitally <br />important Program. <br />CONSERVE NAM <br />