WSP02208

• File Number: 8240.200.10.B
• Description: UCRBRIP Program Summaries/Status Reports
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 8/1/1995
• Author: UCRBRIP
• Title: Status Report
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Long-term funding and legislation

In October 1994, the Recovery Program's Implementation Committee formed an ad hoc commit-
tee to address long-term funding for the upper Colorado River and San Juan River endangered fish
recovery programs. Participants in these discussions have included the Bureau of Reclamation;
the states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and New Mexico; several Indian tribes; water, power and
environmental groups; staff from the House Resources Committee; and representatives of sever-
al members of the Colorado and Utah Congressional delegations. A legislative initiative is expect-
ed to emerge from these discussions.

The cost for implementing the Recovery Program is estimated at $60 to $110 million through the
year 2003. About two-thirds of this funding will be needed to implement a variety of capital pro-
jects such as building fish ladders, acquiring water and water rights, acquiring and restoring flood
plain habitats used by the endangered fish and constructing additional hatchery facilities.

Major issues being addressed include: potential funding sources and funding mechanism; cost-sharing
by program participants, such as federal and state agencies, power users and water users; the relation-
ship between long-term funding and certainty that water projects will receive favorable biological opin-
ions in the future; and whether to jnclude funding for non-listed native species. A draft funding pro-
posal was developed in June 1995.

Date:

Ad hoc committee to meet to develop final funding recommendations. (The
meeting will be at Denver International Airport, meeting room to be determined.
Oct. 5, 1995.

Action:

Action:

Funding recommendations to be submitted to the Recovery Program
Implementation Committee for review and approval.
Mid-November1995.

Date:

Action:
Date:

Recovery Program legislation to be drafted (as needed).
January 1996.

Date:

Legislation to be submitted to Congress; Congressional committees and state
delegations to be briefed.
February 1996.

Action:

Questions?

Please call John Hamill at [phone], ext. 225.

Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan update

The Recovery Implementation Program Recovery Action Plan (RlPRAP) identifies actions
believed necessary to recover endangered fish in the upper Colorado River basin. The RlPRAP is
updated annually and serves as a guide for all program planning, research and recovery efforts.

14