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0023n . . " Mexican Delta. In that regard, a small group was formed to begin to draft "Principles of the Colorado River Basin States Concerning the Colorado River Delta in Mexico" (Principles). A Basin states meeting will be held on May 7th to review the draft set of Principles developed by the small group. A copy of the draft Principles was faxed to Board Members, Alternates and agency managers prior to my attendance at the May 7th Basin states meeting. Several members provided me comments. The draft Principles and the outcome of the May 7th meeting will be discussed during its May 9th Board meeting. Colorado River Delta Issues Progress on developing the detailed agenda for the joint U.S./Mexico symposium on the Colorado River Delta, which is to be held this fall, is coming together slowly. A joint meeting to develop the details for the symposium still has not been held. A tentative date for such a meeting is May ISth. The major topics for the symposium remain: I) the legal and institutional frameworks within each country, 2) the plumbing/conveyance systems in each country, and 3) the ecological/scientific aspects associated with the Delta. On May I, 200 I, I received a letter from the Living Rivers organization (distributed in your handout material) regarding the Colorado River Delta in Mexico. The Living Rivers is a non- govemmental environmental organization, with an office in Phoenix, Arizona, that is spearheading a campaign to provide additional water for the delta and upper Gulf of California. Living Rivers is advocating the dedication of one percent of the flow of the Colorado River for the delta. This additional one-percent water supply would be achieved through water conservation activities in the United States and Mexico. Additionally, Living Rivers wants to see a dedication of flows and water supply in order to maintain, in perpetuity, the Cienega de Santa Clara. Finally, the letter requests support for the delivery ofadditional water to the delta region when water becomes available through purchase or through voluntary agreements. Colorado River Environmental Activities Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP) Technical consultants have been forging ahead and making significant progress on development of the proposed conservation strategy. Documents that have been released in draft format include the following: (I) habitat and species goals and objectives; (2) species selection criteria and draft covered species list; and (3) draft impact mechanisms and measures of take associated with MSCP covered projects. Various MSCP subcommittees are addressing the review and evaluation of these documents, and developing recommendations for Steering Committee decision-making. The Board staff prepared and sent letters of support and testimony to appropriations committees in the House and Senate requesting funding for three MSCP Pilot Projects, including habitat restoration and planning on the Colorado River Indian Reservation ($2,500,000), overall planning and research funding directed toward completion of the MSCP ($3,000,000), and acquisition and restoration oflands along the lower Virgin River in Nevada ($7,000,000). A trip to Washington, D.C., in support ofthe pilot projects, has been scheduled for May 22-24, 2001. The intent of the trip is to meet with senior Department of the Interior officials, committee staff. and members of each Lower Division state's congressional delegation. Additionally, a meeting was held on Monday, 3