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<br />INTRODUCING TO THE RECOVERY IMPLEMENTATION PROGRAM FOR <br />ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES IN THE UPPER COLORADO AND SAN JUAN <br />RIVER BASIN PROGRAMS -- HON. JAMES V. HANSEN (Extension of Remarks - <br />June 24, 1999) <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />HON. JAMES V. HANSEN <br />in the House of Representatives <br />THURSDAY, JUNE 24,1999 <br /> <br />Mr. HANSEN. Mr. Speaker, it is with pleasure that I am introducing an Act that would <br />authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for the endangered fish <br />recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River <br />Basins. This Act is needed so that two cooperative intergovernmental programs can <br />continue working to achieve recovery of four endangered fish in the Upper Colorado River <br />and San Juan River Basins while meeting continuing demands for water in the arid West. <br />To date, requests for funding for the 'recovery programs have received considerable support <br />in Congress because the programs serve as a dispute resolution and provide a means to <br />solve a very complex set of problems. However, as the amount of funding required <br />increases because capital construction projects are underway, program participants are, <br />seeking clear statutory authority to help ensure that needed funds continue to be <br />appropriated by Congress. <br /> <br />The Recovery Program is a mutually supported program including the states, government <br />agencies, Indian tribes, private organizations, and environmental organizations. <br />Participants in the Upper Colorado River program alone include the state of Colorado, the <br />state of Utah, the state of Wyoming, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service, the Western Area Power Administration, environmental organizations, <br />water development interests, and federal power customers. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />This bill would authorize the appropriation of $46 million to the Bureau of Reclamation <br />and the Bureau ofIndian Affairs and ensure the completion of the capital projects and <br />research needed to recover the listed species. Once the bill is enacted, non-federal <br />participants like the states and those who purchase power from federal hydroelectric <br />projects, will also share in the cost of the capital projects. <br /> <br />This bill is a good example of how the recovery of listed species can coincide with existing <br />and future uses of water for states needs. Also, this is an opportunity to set a precedent for <br />other regions of the country who could be impacted by the recovery of a listed species. <br />These implementation programs are running models--showing how cooperation between <br />states, government agencies, and private organizations can achieve results. Participants in <br />these programs are eager to move ahead and willing to share the costs. I urge all my <br />colleagues to support and co-sponsor this Act to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to <br />provide cost sharing for the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the <br />Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basins. <br /> <br />. <br />