BOARD01344

• Board Meeting Date: 1/23/2002
• Description: WSP Section - Native Species Trust Fund Recommendations for FY 2002-03
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

Agenda Item 13
January 22-23, 2002 Board Meeting
Page 2 0 f3

FY 2002-03 Recommended Programs

1. Recovery Programs for the Endangered Fish of the Upper Colorado and San Juan River
Basins: $1,560,000 ($1,400,000 for the Coloradp RIP and $160,000 for the San Juan RIP)

These two recovery programs are directed towar~ the recovery of the pike minnow, humpback
chub, bonytail chub, and razorback sucker in the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River basins
while allowing water development activities to proc~ed in accordance with state law and interstate
compacts, Recovery Program activities eligible for funding are drawn from the Colorado River
Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan (RIPRAP), the San Juan River Recovery
Implementation Program Workplan (Workplan) and:state activities that are consistent with these
plans, These activities include:

. the removal of non-native fish from critical habitat and the development of new habitat such as
floodplain ponds;
. landowner incentives to manage ponds for nativ~ species (e,g, through leases or short-term
payments);
. stocking of native fish;
. construction of fish ladders; and
. the screening and berming of ponds to prevent non-native fish escapement.

Funding from the SCTF leverages additional fimds available from Reclamation, the states of
Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico, and Federal power revenues pursuant to Public Law 106-392, the
Long-term Funding Legislation. These cost share funds are now provided to and managed for the
Recovery Programs by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation,

2. Platte River Cooperative Agreement (CA): No request this year

The purpose of the CA is to develop a Platte River Program that will aid in the recovery of
Whooping Crane, Piping Plover and Least Tern in Central Nebraska and contribute to the recovery
of the Pallid Sturgeon in the Lower Platte River, $300,000,00 was appropriated in 1999-00 to fund
Colorado's participation in the CA. Funds from thi~ appropriation should be sufficient to complete
the term ofthe CA. Therefore, no additional funds are requested this year, Some of the funding
previously provided for South Platte aquatic species: of concern and Tamarack Ranch improvements
may be creditable to the proposed Platte River Program but no detail has been worked out.

Long-term funding requirements for implement!\tion of a proposed program could begin as early
as next fiscal year, Colorado initially anticipated th~t its portion of such program would be $15
million dollars over approximately 15 years, Preliminary indications at this time suggest that
Colorado's contribution may need to have "front-end" emphasis, as the program will be required to
acquire land and build water proj ects during the first few years, In addition, it appears that
Colorado's cost share requirement could be in the $15-25 million dollar range, We are very
concerned about this potential cost increase and wili be working aggressively to reduce the overall
cost of the program,

3. Colorado Division of Wildlife Recommendatio,!s: $1,000,000

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In addition to the above, the DOW is requesting $1,000,000 for work associated with other .
endangered species or species of concern, including' the Prebles Meadow Jumping Mouse, Colorado

Flood Protection. Water Project Planning and Financing. Stream and Lake Protection
Water Supply Protection. Conservation Planning