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<br />_' .1 <br /> <br />, <br />, <br /> <br />002316 . <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Basin Statesffen Tribes Discussion <br /> <br />Colorado River Delta Issues <br /> <br />As reported at the last meeting, the Basin states' representatives are drafting letters to be sent <br />to Secretaries Norton and Powell indicating our interest in, and commitment to, being actively <br />involved as issues related to the Colorado River Delta are addressed. It is expected that the letters <br />to Secretaries Norton and Powell will be further discussed during the next Basin states' meeting to <br />be held on June 18th in Denver, Colorado. <br /> <br />Colorado River Delta Symposium <br /> <br />Arrangements for the U.S. - Mexico Colorado River Delta Symposium are progressing. <br />Currently, the International Boundary and Water Commission (IBWC) is looking at holding the <br />Symposium at the University of Baja California in Mexicali, Mexico, on September 111h and 121h. <br />The agenda for the Symposium has been set and the attendance of several of the speakers have been <br />confirmed. It is anticipated that about 300 participants will be invited to attend the Symposium. <br /> <br />Messrs. Jim Lockhead and Bob Snow have been selected to give an overview of the "Law <br />of the River." Other speakers are being identified from a policy level from both countries. The <br />major topics for the symposium remain: I) the legal and institutional frameworks within each <br />country, 2) the plumbing/conveyance systems in each country, and 3) the ecological/scientific aspects <br />associated with the Delta. <br /> <br />Colorado River Environmental Activities <br /> <br />Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program (MSCP) <br /> <br />The MSCP technical consulting teams have prepared several important draft work products <br />for the MSCP Steering Committee in the last thirty days. These include the following: (I) draft <br />Habitat Goals and Objectives; (2) updated draft Covered Species Goals and Objectives; and (3) draft <br />Conservation Opportunity Areas (COAs) Analysis Report. The Covered Species document describes <br />the proposed management goals and objectives for the razorback sucker, bony tail, Yuma clapper rail, <br />yellow-billed cuckoo, and southwestern willow flycatcher. The Habitat Goals document describes <br />the proposed management goals and objectives for the restoration and maintenance of native aquatic, <br />wetland, and riparian habitats along thc Lower Colorado River. Finally, the draft COAs report <br />describes specific sites, ifrestored and maintained through the MSCP, could provide approximately <br />20,000 acres of habitat for MSCP covered species. The reconnaissance-level report estimates that <br />it would cost approximately $275,000,000 to implement the full package of Tier 1-3 projects, with <br />Tier I being the most feasible, and Tier 3 being the least feasible (or at least requiring significant <br />data and analysis prior to implementation). <br /> <br />On May 22-24, 2001, I accompanied a delegation of non-federal MSCP participants and <br />Steering Committee principals on a trip to Washington, D.C. regarding the proposed MSCP Pilot <br />Projects. The Steering Committee has requested the earmarking of federal funding for each of the <br /> <br />3 <br />