WSP03224 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. - _._ .__ _u , _ intervene were heard. The Court took the case under consideration. There has been no further action by the Court as of today. Included in the Board folder is a copy of a letter, dated May 14, 1997, from Arizona Governor Symington to Governor Pete Wilson expressing concern with the lawsuit and pledging Arizona's efforts to have the lawsuit dismissed. On June 10, 1997, I along with Rita Pearson of Arizona and Janet Rogers of Nevada, participated in a Department of the Interior sponsored Congressional briefing on the recent signing of the Joint Participation Agreement for the Lower Colorado River Mult-Species Conservation Program. Representing the Department of the Interior at the briefings were Ms. Patti Beneke, and Mr. John Rogers, as well as others from the Department, Reclamation, and the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The briefings were held in both the House and the Senate. Although the briefings were not well attended, I believe that they were well received by those in attendance. On June II th, Janet Rogers, Rita Pearson, and I met with several of the Arizona, Califomia, and Nevada congressional offices. Included in the Board folder is a copy of the meeting schedule. The Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (LCR MSCP) Steering Committee met on May 22nd in Phoenix, Arizona, to hear the results of the Biological Subcommittee meeting of May 20th and the LCR MSCP Work Group meeting of May 21st. Several Interim Conservation measures were approved by the Steering Committee pending additional information from the project proponents. Discussions at the Biological Subcommittee, LCR MSCP Workgroup and Steering Committee regarding the status of the Southwest Willow Flycatcher population at the Lake Mead delta indicated nesting this year might be imperiled by rising water. Reclamation agreed to increase surveys at the Lake Mead Delta and provide briefings to the Steering Committee. Surveys are ongoing and results are encouraging. Birds have begun to nest in the Delta and upstream in the canyon. The Final Biological Opinion has been released, initiating the 45 day comment period, which will conclude on July II, 1997. The Board's staff will be preparing comments on the document for transmittal to Reclamation. Included in the Board folder is a News Release from Reclamation announcing the release of the Biological Opinion. You will recall that the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service has been mandated by court order to designate critical habitat for the Southwestern Willow Flycatcher by July 17, 1997, The Service has appealed this court action. Todate the court has not rendered its decision on the appeal. The second part of the Lower Colorado River Tour is now scheduled for September 27-30, 1997. A preliminary schedule is included in the Board folder. 4