BOARD01872

• Board Meeting Date: 9/27/1999
• Description: Colorado River Basin Issues - Interior Department's Indian Water Rights Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

DRAFT -- August 11, 1999

OBJECTIVES

OBJECTIVE #1:

When federal agencies play a role in the development of
water resources (permitting, financing, construction, and/or
environmental review) in river basins where Indian tribes
hold water rights, consideration of the effect of that
development on the exercise of Indian water rights should
begin as early in the process as possible, consistent with
the Federal trust responsibility for Indian natural resourc-
es.

OBJECTIVE #2:

The process and criteria utilized in developing environmen-
tal baselines for use in Section 7 consultations should
address the future possible exercise of Indian water rights.

OBJECTIVE #3:

Section 7 consultations should identify options which allow
for the future exercise of Indian water rights, while avoid-
ing jeopardy to listed species and adverse modification of
critical habitat.

OBJECTIVE #4:

Federal funding should be part of an overall program to
assist and encourage Indian tribes to address the
environmental impacts of Indian water resource development
and to enhance riparian ecosystems.

OBJECTIVE #5:

There should be express consideration of the impact of
proposed designations of critical habitat on the exercise of
Indian water rights, and areas should be excluded from such
designations if there is an adverse impact on those rights,
as required by ~ 3(B) (4) of the Appendix to Secretarial
Order 3206.

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