BOARD01709

• Board Meeting Date: 5/3/1985
• Description: Agenda, Minutes, Memos
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Meeting

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STATEMENT OF THE
COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARD

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SUBMITTED TO THE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION
AND THE ENVIRONMENT
COMMITTEE ON MERCHANT MARINE AND FISHERIES
UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

CONCERNING H.R. 1027
(REAUTHORIZATION OF THE ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT)

April 12, 1985

Introduction

This statement is submitted by the Colorado Water
Conservation Board, which is the state agency charged with the
protection, conservation. and development of the water resources
of the State of Colorado.

Summary

Joint federal-state-private efforts are underway to solve
problems which have arisen from the application of the Endangered .
Species Act to water resources development in the State of
Colorado and other western states. The problems which have
been encountered are substantial ones which have the potential to
adversely impact: (1) the development of the waters to which the
states are entitled pursuant to interstate compacts and decrees.
and (2) the exercise of vested property rights under state water
law. We believe that the efforts to resolve these problems merit
the oversight of Congress, with directions to the Department of
the Interior to report on their outcome in the context of a
review and reauthorization of the Act in 1987. Thus. it is urged
that the Endangered Species Act be reauthorized for only two
years.

The Water Conservation Board is concerned about several
aspects of the administration of the Endangered Species Act. In
the event that the current efforts to find administrative
solutions to conflicts between the Act's administration and water
resources development are unsuccessful or require legislative
confirmation. then Congress should deal with the necessary
amendments to the Act two years from now.

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