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~ . . . . '\. -; -~ HB 1006 Representative Adkins Senator Bishop Department of Natural Resources Estimated Initial FtlIlding Requirements The Department of Natural Resources estimates the total initial funding requirement under HB 1006 to be $24.5 million. This amount, if placed into the Species Conservation Trust Fund, would fund several identified programs. The programs that would initially be funded are identified below. As additional needs are identified, the legislature could appropriate additional moneys into the fund. Existing Recovery Programs Colorado is currently involved in three river basin-oriented endangered species and habitat recovery programs: the San Juan River Recovery Program, the Upper Colorado River Recovery Programs, and the recently executed Cooperative Endangered Species Agreement for the Platte River Basin. These programs are designed to protect species and habitat currently listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, and provide' regulatory certainty to existing and future water users in Colorado. These programs are designed to allow for full development of Colorado's compact entitlements. Together, the San Juan and Upper Colorado lUver Programs could cost as much as $120 million during the remaining 7 - 9 years of their anticipated duration. Colorado's share for the completion of the San Juan and Upper ColoradO Programs is projected to be about $10 million. The balance -- about $11 0 million - will be paid for by our partners, the federal government and the scates of Wyoming, Utah, and New Mexico. The Platte lUver Basin effort is expected to cost about $75 million in 1997 dollars over a 13 _ 16 year period to address the effects of water development as it exists in the Basin as of 1997. Colorado's share will be $15 million for existing water development, plus an additional $3 - 5 million to offset the effects of future development. The balance will be the obligation of our partners. A one time appropriation into the Species Conservation Trust Fund of $17.6 miilion would address these recovery program obligations, over a fifteen year period. Assuming the fund will generate 6 % annual interest, expenditure of the Interest and principal would deplete this portion of the fund at the end of the fifteen year period. DecliniIlg Species In addition to the three recovery programs described above, there are a number of species in Colorado that are declining to the point that listing under the Endangered Species Act is either imminent or contemplated in the future. These species are often referred to as "candidate