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eJ< e e Draft 8-1-94 Colorado Water Conservation Board ISSUES DOCUMENT FOR THE APPROPRIATION OF INSTREAM FLOWS BY THE COLORADO WATER CONSERVATION BOARIl FOR THE RECOVERY OF ENDANGERED FISH SPECIES OF THE UPPER COLORADO AND SAN JUAN RIVER BASINS PURPOSE The purpose of this Issues Document is to provide a summary of the Recovery Implementation Programs for the endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado and San Juan Rivers. The summary addresses the reasons for the institution of the Recovery Programs, what the goals and objectives are, what Colorado's role is and what is being done to resolve the issues and concerns associated with the programs. Recovery ImDlementation Program Background Four fish species that inhabit the Colorado River Basin have been federally listed as endangered: the Colorado squawfish, the bony tail chub, the humpback chub and the razorback sucker. Each of the four fishes were once abundant in the Upper Basin, however. they have declined in numbers and are now threatened with extinction from their natural habitat. The current status of these species has been attributed to direct loss of habitat, changes in water flow and temperature regimes, blockage of migration routs and interactions with nonnative fish species. The Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has maintained since 1978 that a jeopardy situation exists because of these factors and has concluded that actions must be taken to offset them. The states of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah play a key role in determining the development of water resources in the Upper Colorado River Basin, and thus have an interest in legal requirements that could constrain water resource development. The Bureau of Reclamation is responsible for the operation offederal reservoirs that regulate delivery of supplies of water for beneficial uses. The Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) markets hydroelectric power generated at Federal water projects within the Colorado River Basin. All federal agencies and actions are mandated by the requirements of federal law including the Endangered Species Act of 1973. In order to meet federal regulations and assist in the recovery of these species and assure that the Upper Colorado River Basin states can continue developing their compact apportioned waters, a Cooperative Agreement between the States of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the Secretary of Interior, and W AP A was signed in January 1988, which established the Recovery Implementation Program for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program). Water development and environmental groups participate in this Recovery Program as well. The purpose of this Recovery Program is to recover and delist these four fish while allowing water development to proceed by restoring and establishing self-sustaining populations and protecting sufficient habitat to support populations. 1 COW 0372 I )