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Resolution No. 2006 -10 - -- UPPER COLORADO AND SAN JUANRIVER BASIN <br />ENDANGERED FISH RECOVERY PROGRAMS <br />The Association supports the continued appropriation of cost - sharing funds by the Congress and the Legislatures <br />of the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming for the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered <br />Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program. The <br />Association urges the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to reduce the overhead ( "cost recovery ") rate that it is charging on <br />fund transfers for work associated with the San Juan River Basin Species Recovery Implementation Program recognizing <br />the enormous benefits that this multi- state, cooperative partnership is providing for endangered species recovery. <br />Position Statement--- Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin Species Recovery Programs:— <br />(Resolution 2006 -10) <br />The Colorado River Basin is home to 14 native fish species and four of those species are listed as endangered <br />under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). The Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, bonytail and humpback <br />chub, have been designated and are protected as endangered species. Two cooperative intergovernmental programs have <br />,.beeri.established to accomplish ESA compliance for these four species of fish while allowing Colorado, New Mexico, Utah <br />and Wyoming water users to consume and further develop Compact- apportioned Upper Colorado River Basin water= <br />resources. The Upper Colorado River Recovery Implementation Program was initiated in 1988 and the San Juan Recovery <br />Program in 1992. Through these programs, federal and state government agencies, Indian tribes and private organizations <br />are working in partnership to achieve recovery of endangered fish while balancing the continuing demands for water in the <br />and West. The Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin Programs have and are continuing to provide the <br />reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid "jeopardy" ESA Section 7 biological opinions. <br />In October 2000, legislation was signed into law providing federal authorization and funding for the remaining <br />capital construction needs of the two recovery programs. Public Law 106 -392 authorizes federal capital funding for the <br />recovery programs that is to be matched by capital funding from the participating states and hydropower users and non - <br />reimbursable, annual base funding from federal hydropower revenues (specifically, Colorado River Storage Project <br />revenues that have accrued to the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund) through federal fiscal year 2011 for operation and <br />maintenance of capital projects and for monitoring thereafter, subject to Congressional oversight. Public Law 107 -375, <br />extended the authorization period for the Secretary of Interior to implement the capital construction projects (and to expend <br />non - Federal funds) from 2005 to 2008 for the Upper Colorado River Program and from 2007 to 2008 for the San Juan <br />River Program. Legislation is now before the Congress to increase the appropriation authorization ceiling, recognize <br />additional non - federal cost - sharing, and extend the authorization period to 2010 in order to complete the capital <br />construction program, while appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation would remain at their same level for the <br />additional two -year period. <br />Past funding requests for the recovery programs have been supported by Congress because the programs serve as <br />dispute resolution mechanisms between endangered species conservation and water development. The capital construction <br />programs include facilities for the genetic conservation and propagation of the endangered fish species for the restoration of <br />floodplain habitat and fish passage, for regulation and/or supply of instream habitat flows, for preventing fish entrapment in <br />canals and for the removal or relocation of non - native fishes. <br />Resolution No. 2006 -11 - -- LOWER COLORADO RIVER MULTI - SPECIES CONSERVATION <br />PROGRAM <br />The Colorado River Water Users Association ( CRWUA) supports the Lower Colorado Basin States, the Secretary <br />of the Interior, Lower Colorado Basin tribes and private entities in the implementation of the Lower Colorado River Multi - <br />Species Conservation Program ( LCRMSCP), development of which was completed with the issuance of a Record of <br />Decision in April, 2005. The CRWUA recognizes that funding for the implementation of the LCRMSCP will be needed <br />and Congress is urged to adequately fund the implementation of the LCRMSCP. <br />Position Statement - -- Lower Colorado River Multi - Species Conservation Program - -- (Resolution <br />No. 2006 -110) <br />14 <br />