BOARD00701

• Board Meeting Date: 7/26/2006
• Description: WSP Section - Platte River Endangered Species Program
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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WHEREAS, the Bureau of Reclamation has issued a Final Environmental Impact
Statement, and the U.S.F.W.S. has issued a final Biological Opinion, analyzing the Platte
River Recovery Implementation Program ("Program").

WHEREAS, the BOR is expected to issue a final Record of Decision ("ROD"), in
support of the Program.

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado and Colorado water users will benefit from the
regulatory certainty associated with the Program.

WHEREAS, the State of Colorado recognizes the value in recovering threatened and
endangered species and supports the Program and the Adaptive Management Plan as a
measured effort towards this goal.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Colorado Water Conservation Board:

1. Encourages the State of Colorado to: continue to cooperate with the States of
Wyoming and Nebraska and the United States Department of the Interior; and, take.
appropriate actions, such as negotiating an interim cooperative agreement that will allow
the States and the federal govemment to cooperatively lay the foundation for the Program
until the Program becomes effective.

. 2. Recommends that Governor Owens sign the Program agreement.

3. Encourages the States of Wyoming and Nebraska and the United States Department of
the Interior to sign the Program agreement.

4. Supports the passage of Senate Bill 361l, and any other subsequent legislation that
would federally authorize the Program, as well as any other legislation that would
appropriate funds for the Program.

5. Continue to work with the South Platte Water Related Activities Program, Inc.
("SPWRAP") and develop appropriate Memoranda of Understanding to assure that
Colorado will be able to meet its obligations should the Program become effective.

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