BOARD02168

• Board Meeting Date: 5/11/1998
• Description: Colorado River Basin Issues - Endangered Species Issues - Status and Outlook for Recovery Program Funding Legislation
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

.

RECEIVED
APR 2 0 1998

Colorado Water
Cor:ser/atcn Boyd

Colorado River
fish and Wildlife Council

April 15,' 1998

Mr. Peter"Evans:

.

I am writing to inform you that the Colorado River Fish and Wildlife Council (CRFWC), at their
January 1998 meeting in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, endorsed the proposal to provide statutory
authority for federal agencies to undertake capital projects under the Recovery Implementation
Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River
Recovery Implementation Program (Recovery Programs). The legislation has been introduced in
the Senate by Wayne Allard and in the House by Scott McInnis, who are both Republicans from
Colorado. The Senate Bill is S 1749 and the House Bill is H.R. 3669.

The CRFWC is compose<i of upper and lower basin state wildlife agencies. It exists to coordinate
fish and wildlife manage,nent activities in the Colorado River Basin. These activities typically
allow water development projects to proceed while states, water users, environmental groups and
Indian tribes work with federal agencies to recover four Colorado River endangered fish species.

Since 1988, these programs have successfully received Congressional appropriations. However, as
necessary capital construction projects are finally underway, the amount of funding required is
increasing. As a result, program participants want clear statutory authority to help ensure that
needed funds will continue to be requested by the Department of the Interior and appropriated by
Congress. The success of these recovery programs will depend upon annual funding and
implementation of recovery action plans, which in turn, will help avoid federal Endangered Species
Act confrontations. Therefore, officials from Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are
supporting the legislation which contains the following provisions:

. Provides clear statutory authority for the Bureau of Reclamation and the Bureau ofIndian
Affairs to undertake capital projects necessary to recover the four endangered fish species
pursuant to the federal Endangered Species Act;

.

.

Requires significant cost-sharing by states, water users and federal power customers;

STATE MEMBERSHIP: Arizona Game and Fistl Department; California Department of Fish and Game: Colorado Division of I/'Iifdlife;
Ncv<1da Department of Wildlife; New Mexico Department of Game and Fish; Utah Division of Wildlife Resources: Wyoming Game and Fish
Department COOPERATING FEDERAL AGENCIES: Bureau of Indian Affairs; Bureau 01 Land Management; Bureau of Reclamation;
Corps of Engineers: Environmental Protection Agency; Fish and Wildlife Service; Forest Service; National Park Service