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BOARD02400
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Last modified
8/16/2009 3:15:09 PM
Creation date
10/4/2006 7:14:47 AM
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Template:
Board Meetings
Board Meeting Date
1/27/1999
Description
Colorado River Basin Issues - Long-Term Funding Legislation
Board Meetings - Doc Type
Memo
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<br />The Upper Colorado River Program has provided the reasonable and prudent alternative to avoid . <br />"jeopardy" Endangered Species Act Section 7 biological opinions for 204 water projects located <br />in Colorado, Utah and Wyoming. These projects have an aggregate capability to deplete <br />approximately 693,000 acre-feet of water per year (about 544,000 acre-feet were historic or "pre- <br />Program" projects that required ESA consultation). <br /> <br />The San Juan Program, along with the re-operation of Navajo Reservoir, provides the <br />reasonable and prudent alternative for approximately 700,000 acre- feet of preexisting <br />depletions in the Basin. The Program serves as a part of the reasonable and prudent alternative <br />for the Animas-La Plata Project (57, 100-acre feet of future depletion) in Colorado and New <br />Mexico and the Navajo Indian Irrigation project (133,000-acre feet of pre-program depletion) <br />in New Mexico. The program will also provide the reasonable and prudent alternative for <br />future development as "sufficient" progress is made in the recovery of the endangered fish. <br /> <br />The protection and development ofIndian Trust Assets and the success of key water rights <br />settlements in the San Juan River depend upon the success of the San Juan Recovery <br />Implementation Plan. Secure funding for the capital projects and the continued research <br />necessary for the recovery of the species are critical to the protection of these assets and honoring <br />the provisions of the water rights settlements. ,- <br />'.'. <br /> <br />In the San Juan River Program, substantial progi~ss has been made in the identification of <br />limiting factors for the species through the cooperation of program participants, and recovery . <br />activities are just beginning. Nevertheless, the initial phase of the Animas-La Plata Project and <br />construction of Blocks 1-8 of the Navajo Indian Irrigation Project have been able to proceed <br />because of the program. <br /> <br />Requests for funding for the recovery programs have received considerable support in Congress <br />because the programs serve as a dispute resolution mechanism and provide a means to solve a <br />very complex set of problems in the Upper Colo'rado River and San Juan River Basins. <br /> <br />Since 1988, the programs have been relied primarily on the good will of Congressional <br />appropriators and the Department of the Interioi:for adequate funding. While the U.S. Fish and <br />Wildlife Service has clear authority to undertak~ 'capital projects under the federal Endangered <br />Species Act, no such clear authority exists for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the Bureau of <br />Indian Affairs or the U.S. Bureau of Land Management to participate in the recovery programs. <br /> <br />However, as the amount of funding required is increasing because capital construction projects <br />are finally underway, program participants believe these recovery programs may begin <br />competing with other federal priorities. As a result, the program participants want clear statutory <br />authority to help ensure that needed funds continue to be appropriated by Congress. <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />. <br />
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