<br />00];)32
<br />
<br />Species Conservation Trust Fund priorities
<br />
<br />species is expected in March 1998, If the PMjM is listed,
<br />ranching. aggregate mining. water development, road and
<br />bridge building and other development affecting the PMlM
<br />or its habitat could be subject to regulation under the ESA,
<br />DNR has initiated a broad-based collaborative planning
<br />process to develop a legally and scientifically adequate
<br />PMlM protection plan and implementing agreements, and
<br />5500,000 has been obtained to complete the planning
<br />process, Colorado's share for implementing the resulting
<br />plan could be $1.5 million.
<br />Canadian Lynx. Though there have been no con-
<br />fumed sightings for several years, some biologists believe
<br />this species occurs or could occur in Colorado's high moun-
<br />tainous regiON. In response to a citizen listing petition. the
<br />Service reac:hed a Mwarranted but precludedM determination
<br />last year. This determination is wuler judicial review, A list-
<br />ing and subsequent regulation could affect expansion of ski
<br />areas and many high mountain recreational and forestry
<br />projects, Cunent1y, the DOW is working with the Forest
<br />Service to conduct habitat assessments to determine whether
<br />adequate habitat is possible to sulXessfully reintroduce the
<br />species into the wild in order to speed its recovery, It is
<br />expected that $1,8 million will be required to complete plan-
<br />ning activities and implement a species reintroduction and
<br />monitorlngplan.
<br />ArlcaDsas Darter. The Arkansas Darter 0<:= in the
<br />Arkansas River Basin and is designated by the USFWS as a
<br />candidate for federal ESA listing. In 1994, the Division of
<br />Wildlife prepared a plan to improve this species' popula-
<br />tions in Colorado and protect and improve existing habitat
<br />The estimated cost of implementing this plan is $1 million.
<br />Colotado River Cutthroat Trout One of the few
<br />species of trout native to Colorado, this species has declined
<br />significantly throughout its range on Colorado's Western
<br />Slope and in Wyoming and Utah. If petitioned to list, the
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<br />
<br />On Jan. 22, ONR Executive Director James 5, Lochhead
<br />testified to the House Agric:ulture Committee that HB
<br />1006 Mis probably the most important natura! resoun:e legis-
<br />lation to c:om.e before the General Assembly in many years,.
<br />Lochhead testified that ONR estimates that an invest-
<br />ment of $24.5 million is needed to fund the programs listed
<br />below,
<br />
<br />e
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<br />
<br />Existing obligations under the ESA
<br />The San Juan River Recovery Program, the Up?er
<br />Colorado River Recovery Program and the recently executed
<br />Cooperative Endangered Species Agreement for the Platte
<br />River Basin are designed to protect species and habitat cur-
<br />rently listed under the federal FSA, and provide regulatory
<br />certainty to existing and future water users in Colorado,
<br />These programs are also designed to allow for full develop-
<br />ment of Colorado's compact entitlements.
<br />Together, the San Juan and Upper Colorado River
<br />Programs c:ould cost as much as $120 million during the
<br />remaining 7-9 years of their anticipated duration.
<br />Colorado's share for the completion of these programs is
<br />projected at about $10 million. The balance - about $110
<br />million - will be paid for by the federal government and
<br />the states of Wyoming. Utah and New Mexico,
<br />The Platte River Basin effort is expected to cost about
<br />$75 million over a 13-16 year period to address the effects of
<br />water development as it exists in the basin as of 1997,
<br />Colorado's share will be $15 million for existing water devel-
<br />opment, plus an additional $3-5 million to offset the effects
<br />of future development The balance will be the obligation of
<br />our~
<br />An appropriation now into the Species Conservation
<br />Trust FWld of $17,6 million would address these recovery
<br />program obligatiON over a IS-year period. Assuming the
<br />fund will ge<U!rate 6% annual inlerest. expenditure of the
<br />interest and principal would deplete this portion of the fund
<br />at the end of 15 years.
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<br />Other priority conservation initiatives
<br />ONR has identified the following dedining native
<br />species as among the most vulnerable and, therefore, most in
<br />need of the resoun:es provided by HB 1006, An appropria-
<br />tion into the Species Conservation Trust Fund of an addi-
<br />tional $6.9 million would allow the state to make substantial
<br />progress in reducing the need to list these species or. in the
<br />event that they are listed, rendering the effects of such listing
<br />as to be as unobtrusive as possible to the lives of most
<br />Coloradans.
<br />Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse (PMJM), The
<br />PMlM oa:urs along streamside areas on the Front Range
<br />from Colorado Springs to Cheyenne, Wyo. The species was
<br />proposed for listing by the US, FISh and Wllcllife Service in
<br />March 1997, A final determination about whether to list the
<br />
<br />Species Conservation Trust Fund
<br />Proposed Initial Funding Requirements
<br />
<br />Recovery of Usted Species
<br />Upper Colorado, San Juan, Platte
<br />Conserving Declining Species
<br />Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse
<br />Canadian Lynx
<br />Arkansas Darter
<br />Colorado River Cutthroat Trout
<br />Mountain Plover
<br />Rio Grande Sucker
<br />Total
<br />
<br />$17,600,000
<br />
<br />1,500,000
<br />1,800,000
<br />l,OOO,ODO
<br />1,300,000
<br />1,000,000
<br />300,000
<br />524,500,000
<br />
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