BOARD01112

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2006
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Federal and Interstate

Grant Applications Requested by Water for the West Foundation: Water for the West Board of
Directors has approved guidelines for grant applications recommended by the Education Committee, The
applications requesting grant monies up to $25,000 must be submitted by February I with announcements
of the grant awards released by April 30, 2006, The Water for the West was established in 2002 to
celebrate the 100 years of accomplishments of the Bureau of Reclamation; and to establish a permanent
foundation for continuing educational activities on the value and benefits of the water infrastructure in the
West.

Endangered Species Act Reform-HR 3824 (TESRA): In September HR, 3824 was passed by the
House of Representatives by a vote of229 to 193, The TIrreatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act
of 2005 (TESRA) will fix the ESA by: I) focusing on species recovery; 2) providing incentives; 3)
increasing openness and accountability; 4) strengthening scientific standards; 5) creating bigger roles for
state and local governments; 6) protecting private property owners; and, 7) eliminating dysfunctional
critical habitat designations,

Endangered Species Act Reform-S,21l0 (CRESA): On December 15, Senators Mike Crapo (R-ID)
and Blanche Lincoln (D-AR), who co-chaired a bipartisan ESA working group, introduced the
Collaboration for the Recovery ofthe Endangered Species Act (CRESA), The bill, S. 2110, encourages
species conservation and recovery with more incentives for private landowners and states. It would, for
the first time, provide tax breaks and allow conservation banking to protect species. Several states have
successfully used banking as a mechanism to encourage voluntary conservation efforts, The bill also
allows the federal government to prioritize its resources to get funding to the species most in need.
. Further, it incorporates local input on recovery plans and species recovery teams.

The proposed tax incentives will reward landowners who help recover species, There are regulatory
incentives for landowners, and it makes it easier for landowners to do recovery work for species, Other
incentives involve Farm Bill programs, Given the tax provisions, CRESA may receive a hearing next year
before the Senate Finance Committee. Crapo and Lincoln are both members of the Finance Committee.
The bi11 will is available online at <htto://thomas.loc.gOv>,

Endangered Species Act-Reauthorization of the Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish
Recovery Programs-S.IS78 and HR.3IS3: These two bi11s would reauthorize appropriations to the
Secretary of Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to undertake capital projects for the
Recovery Implementation of Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin
and the San Juan River Basin through 2010. They increase the amount authorized for federal
participation in such projects from $46 mi11ion to $61 million and also increases the limitation on the total
costs for such projects from $100 million to $126 million. S.1578 was passed on the Senate by
unanimous consent and sent to the House December 17, 2005,
The companion bill, HR. 3153, was reported on by the House Committee on Resources and placed on the
Union Calendar on December 13,2005

Water Rights Prompt ESA Reauthorization Debate: On Nov, 30, a brief was submitted to the U.s,
House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Water and Power, which has been holding hearings
nationwide to evaluate the necessity of updating the 1973 Endangered Species Act.

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Drought Relief Bill Provisions Extended: November 16, the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee favorably reported S. 648, to extend the Reclamation States Emergency Drought Relief Act's
authorities through 2010,

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