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• <br /> 1° E N V I R O N M E N T A L D E F E N S E F U N D <br /> April 10 , 1985 <br /> Mr. David Getches <br /> Executive Director <br /> Department of Natural Resources <br /> 1313 Sherman Street, Room 718 <br /> Denver, Colorado 80203 <br /> Re : Upper Colorado River Basin <br /> Coordinating Committee <br /> Dear Mr. Getches : - - <br /> In recent hearings before the House Subcommittee on Fish- <br />_ eries, Wildlife Conservation and the Environment, the U.S. Depart- <br /> ment of the Interior recommended that the Endangered Species Act <br /> be reauthorized for four years without substantive amendments. <br /> The Department of Commerce made the same recommendation. And a <br /> number of local and national conservation organizations reco- <br /> mmended that the Act be reauthorized for five years. Thus, we <br /> are hopeful that Congress will act quickly to reauthorize this <br /> vital piece of legislation. <br /> Nevertheless, despite the efforts of state and federal fish <br /> and wildlife agencies, the endangered fish species of the Colorado <br /> River basin continue to decline. It is abundantly clear that <br /> development and implementation of a comprehensive conservation <br /> plan is urgently needed if we are to avoid the extinction of <br /> these species. The Upper Colorado River Coordinating Committee <br /> could play a vital role in bringing all interested parties together <br /> to formulate a biologically responsible plan that reconciles <br /> protection of the natural habitat upon which these endangered <br /> fish species depend with future development of the basin's water <br /> resources . <br /> However, in observing the Committee's deliberations we have <br /> identified several issues that could seriously obstruct the <br /> search for such a solution. First, it appears that in examining <br /> the effects of additional depletions on flow regimes, the hydrology <br /> subcommittee failed to evaluate the effects of : - • - lo s <br /> predicted in the completed and pending section 7 consultations. <br /> 1405 Arapahoe Avenue Boulder, Colorado 80302 (303) 440-4901 <br /> OFFKTES IN NEW YORK. NY (National Headquarters):WASHINGTON. DC: BERKELEY. CA: RICHMOND.VA BOULDER. CO <br />