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10/22/97 WED 08:36 tAX 9702480601 USBR WCAUNV ~~ (0-/7"9'1 I , I I , I I I \ Editorials Endangered agreement There's no doubt that the bw-den of protecting endan. gered fish in.the Colorado River drainage has fallen alnlost eXclusively on Western Slope interests. Mer all, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Isn't leaning on the Denver Water Board or the Northern Colorado Water Con- servancy District for water.right Concessions as the federal agency Is leaning against Ute Water. This, despite the fact that a large pali of the reason the fish are endangered in the first place Is that Front Range diversions of Western Slope water have depleted the amount ofwater in the drainage. So It's not surprising that West Slopers - through the Colorado River Water Conservation District - are pushing Cor changes in the endangered fish recovery program Which will allow a more equitable distribution of responsibility. In doing so, however, they must perfonn a delicate bal. ancing act. If they push too hard, a fragile agreement among state, local and federal ofIlcIals that theoretically provides ample room for future water development in. the basin while at the same time providing for the endangered fish could Call apart. . The fish recovery program for the Colorado River is sup- posed to prevent the sorts of endangered.species standoffs that nearly halted logging for a time in the Northwest and blocked development of big projects such as the Tellico Dam in Tennessee. To date it has accomplished that, but it's reasonable to wonder at what cost. Why, after all, IS It necessary for the city of Grand June- tiOll to prOVide endangered fish mitigation for the !!linus, cule disruption to fish caused by the bridge pillars for the Old Mill pedestrian bridge to Orchard Mesa? Why have water sales from Ruedi Reservoir near Basalt been stalled for 15 years because of concerns about their impact on endangered fish? And why aren't Front Range water Interests called upon to give u,p some water from their transmountain diversions to meet the needs of endangered fish? Western Slope officials are right to pose such questions and to seek a more equitable East Slope.West Slope sharing offish recovery etl'olis even if it endangers the fish recovery agreement.