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<br />e <br /> <br />e <br /> <br />The Preble's meadow jumping mouse (PMJM) is another species that has been the focus of a <br />large-scale effort to reduce or eliminated regulatory compliance burdens imposed by the federal <br />ESA. According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service), PMJM populations have <br />declined throughout the species' range in Colorado and Wyoming possibly due to habitat <br />conversion and degradation. On May 12, 1998, the Service listed the PMJM as a "threatened" <br />species under the federal Endangered Species Act. In its decision to list the PMJM, the Service <br />identified residential and commercial development, flood control and water projects, mining, <br />highway and bridge construction, and livestock grazing as possible causes of the species' <br />decline. The DNR, working with numerous local government and private sector partners, is <br />coordinating a collaborative planning process to address conservation of the PMJM. This effort <br />is designed to reduce or eliminate the need for federal regulation of the numerous activities along <br />the Front Range that affect the PMJM or its habitat. <br /> <br />Key Issues: The collaborative PMJM planning effort is near completion. Five county habitat <br />conservation plans for the PMJM habitat are underway in EI Paso, Douglas, Elbert, Jefferson and <br />Boulder counties. We expect Larimer, and possibly Weld counties to also initiate habitat <br />conservation plans. To see the planning effort through the state requires $50,000 from the Fund <br />to match with anticipated federal funding. The state supports mitigation banking as a way to <br />ensure ESA compliance. Acquiring options on PMJM habitat is one way for the state to promote <br />mitigation banking and recovery goals. <br /> <br />The effort will demonstrate successful programs that protect riparian habitats (e.g. local <br />ordinances, open space programs, etc.) that can substitute for direct federal regulation. Federal <br />permits should then be written to allow activities such as trail construction, gravel mining, <br />highway and home construction to proceed in compliance with the ESA, as long as they fit <br />within the planning and regulatory priorities of local governments. <br /> <br />Anticipated Long-term Cost of the HCP Process: The long-term costs of the planning effort <br />amount to approximately $100,000 from a range of sources, including $50,000 from the Fund. <br />ESA compliance, primarily through the NEP A process, will also add to long-term costs, but no <br />estimates can be determined at this time. Continued funding for recovery of the species will also <br />be necessary, but long term funding estimates cannot be determined as of yet. <br /> <br />Status of Activities and Expenditures from the HB 98-1006 Fund in FY 1999-2000: The <br />Division of Wildlife (DOW) re-programmed $227,000 of its GOCO funds to leverage with HB <br />1006 funds for a total of $477,000 made available for habitat conservation work. The request for <br />proposals (RFP) was mailed out on December 20, 1999 to more than 850 individuals and <br />organizations. Completed applications are due on January 28, 2000. A review panel composed of <br />personnel from the Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director's Office, <br />Colorado Division of Wildlife and the u.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will select the proposals <br />chosen to be funded by the middle of February. Contracting with the successful candidates will <br />begin as soon as the selection phase is completed. <br /> <br />Recommended Expenditure from the HB 98-1006 Fund in FY 2000-2001: The DNR <br />e recommends allocating $250,000 from the fund to continue to protect and manage Preble's <br /> <br />9 <br />