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1';r"'~, .,-.-,,'-':;~ f.~.;,..). ~:?;;~k:~ (~~0J O"'7r~q lit u. II. THE SYMPOSIUM PROCEEDINGS A. Field Trip The morning of October 5th, Colorado state representatives led a group of symposium participants on a field trip of structures and facilities on the ColOrado River managed for the protection and recovery of endangered fishes along a fifteen-mile critical reach in the Colorado River near Grand Junction. The field trip included reports from various individuals regarding the significance of these features, and provided a useful context for later discussions. B. Opening, Welcome and Introductions Larry Anderson, Chairman of the Western States Water Council, provided the general opening, welcome and introduction to the Symposium participants, expressing his hope and belief that the symposium would provide a needed step towards identifYing and resolving critical difficulties the states are having with ESA implementation. Chuck Lile, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board, welcomed participants on behalf of the host state. He expressed concerns over the need for ESA funding, on moving the emphasis from process to actions, and the need for incentives to encourage states and landowners to meet ESA goals. Jo Clark, director of programs for the Western Governors' Association (WGA), welcomed participants on behalf of the WGA. She mentioned the policy changes announced by Secretary Babbitt and stressed the need for decentralized, proactive and flexible approaches to resolve ESA difficulties. Perry Olson, Director of the Division of Wildlife for the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, remarked on the extensive processes tied up with ESA implementation, commenting that 80% of the funding goes to the process, whereas only 20% goes to species. Mr. Olson said the best approach is to keep species from becoming endangered in the first place, but stated that the problems with endangered species may be more global than local in scale. He mentioned the success of two Upper Colorado River programs developed through partnerships between fish and wildlife agencies, water agencies and user groups and other organizations and emphasized the importance oflooking for ways to build stronger bonds between agencies working toward common ESA goals. C. ESA Overview An overview of ESA administration was next provided. Wayne Phillips, Counsel for the Montana Agency of Fish, Wildlife and Parks, summarized the major provisions of the Act and a useful summary of the processes generated under it. He also described several anomalies about ESA implementation. For example, despite the statutory difference between endangered and threatened species, agencies implementing the ESA have not distinguished between them. 3