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<br />Recovery Program Benefits <br /> <br />The Recovery Program for Endangered Fish <br />Species of the Upper Colorado River Basin is a <br />cooperative partnership organized in 1988 under an <br />agreement between the federal Department of the <br />Interior, the Western Area Power Administration, and <br />the states of Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Under <br />this agreement, the 3 states, 3 federal agencies, and <br />represenearives of Ihe waler development and <br />environmental interests share responsibility for the <br />planning,. funding and implementatiqn of recovery <br />plans. The goal of the Recovery Program is 10 recover <br />the 4 endaflgeredjish species (i.e., Colorado <br />squawfish. razorback sucker, humpback chub, and <br />bony/ail chub) while allowing warer development /0 <br />proceed ill accordance with state and federal laws. <br />Recovery Program ~nefits include: <br />, Colorado interests (water, wildlife, agriculture, <br />erc,) have more direct intluence as a Program <br />participant in the evaluation and planning of <br />recovery plans. <br /> <br />.. Progress toward "recovery of the endangered fishes <br />has been sufficient to avoid ESA regulatory <br />contlict while water supply management and <br />development has continued (more than 200,000 <br />acre feet of consumptive uses associated with over <br />170 projects, over 120 in Colorado, have <br />survived ESA review without a sinQ'le oroiect beinQ' <br />downsized or denied permits). <br /> <br />.. The federal agencies agreed to rely on state laws <br />, for the management of flows, avoiding potential <br />litigation over "federal regulatory water rights" <br />and other options which may not integrale as well <br />with Colorado's framework of existing water rights <br />and the prior appropriation system. <br /> <br />, Full "recovery" and delisting of endangered species <br />through cooperative efforts is preferable to <br />regulatory requirements that merely preserve the <br />status quo. Since these four species occupy the top <br />of the food chain, efforts to recover also protect the <br />basic health of the river. <br /> <br />The Colorado Water Conservation <br /> <br />Board (CWCB) <br /> <br />The tWCB is composed of 14 members: 9 are appointed to <br />represenl a major river basin or Denver, and 4 serve IS ex officio <br />members (the Executive Director of the Departmenl of Natural <br />Resources, the CWCB Director,lhe State Engineer, the Division of <br />Wildlife Di~lor~ and lhe Attorney General. <br />The mission of Ihe CWCB is to promote the proteclion, <br />conservation. and development ofColorarlo's water ~ources in <br />order 10 secure the greatesl utilization of lhose resources for the <br />benefit ofpresenlllOd fut~ generations, arid 10 minimize Ihe ri5kof <br />flood damage and related economic losses. The 8 Goals identified in <br />lhe CWCB Long Range Plan are IislOO below. <br /> <br />Goal! Proleclinp Colomrfo'!; Inten;ttile Comnact Annnrtionmentlil: <br />To protect Colorado's interstale compaCI apportionments against arty <br />proposed actions which may Ihreaten Colorado's abilily 10 ulilize <br />those waters, while pursuing nJtemati't'es which resolve or avoid the <br />various water resource problems which may constrain or weaken <br />Colorado's future opportunities. <br /> <br />Goal 2 Develonmenl of Colorado'; Water Re.o;ouTCe.'i: To promote <br />neCessary and appropriate developmenl of Colorado's water <br />resources. <br /> <br />Goal3 Environmental Conflict Resolulion: To avoid future <br />environmental conflicts associaled with the de't'elopment and use or <br />Coiorndo's water resources by preseJ'\ling the water-dependent natural <br />environment 10 a reasonable degree in a non-regulatory setting in <br />which water rights and opportunities for future human uses are also <br />protected. <br /> <br />Goal4 . Qualilv M8JlEl.aemenl: To enhnnce the leadership, <br />efficiency, and morale within the CWCB staff by 2~ percent as <br />measured in annual surveys monlloring productivity and C'-mployee <br />satisfaction. <br /> <br />Goal S Water Poli~v Fommlaticm: To strengthen Ihe CWCB's <br />effecli't'eness as a leader in the idenlincalion and analysis ofwster <br />controversies affecting Colorado, in the evaluation of altemsli't'e <br />solutions in coopemlion with the affected communities of in teresI, in <br />Ihe dC'lelopment of consensus support for a preferred resolution 10 <br />Ihose controversies, and in formalizing officialsl8l:e policy in <br />coordination with Ihe 'Oovernor and General Assembly. <br /> <br />G0816 Wafer Information Manalremenl Svslems: To develop and <br />implergent a statewide water information management system by <br />2003, <br /> <br />Goal7 F100dDlain Mananmenl: To minimize Colorado's flood loss <br />'t'ulnerobility and relal:ed economic impacts. <br /> <br />Goal8 Puhlic Inrorma.lion: To SSSl,:l", Ihat Colorado citizens, <br />including key communities and inteJests, ha't'e mady access 10 the <br />high quality information which will be needed for Ihe proleCI.ion, <br />conservation, nnd development or Colorado's waler resources. <br /> <br />~ <br /><:::> <br />,.... <br />eft <br />"';."- <br />tv <br /> <br />Instream Flow <br />Water Rights <br />for <br />Endangered <br />Fishes in <br />Colorado <br /> <br /> <br />Jenuaury 1996 <br />COLORADO WATER <br />CONSERVATION BOARD <br />Department of Natural Resources <br />