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WESTERN STATES WATER . 00158~.1 January 8, 1993 Issue No. 973 TIlE WEEKLY NEWSIETfER OF THE WES1ERN STATES WA:. Creekview Plaza. suite 11-201 I 942 East 7145 So. I MidVale. Utah 84047 I (801) 561-5300 I FAX (801)255-9642 '---..,. editor - Tony Willardson typist - Carrie Curvin . ENVlRONMENT/WATER RESOURCES Endangered Species Act/Fish and Wildlife The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) and the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) have agreed to a significant change in their methods for listing animal and plant species as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). The change!!, which come as part of the settlement of a lawsuit filed by the Fund for Animals, and other environmental groups, will result in expedited listing of plants and animals as endangered or threatened and will recognize a 'multispecies, ecosy!!tem approach.' Since passage of the ESA, some 1,275 specie!! have been listed; 750 in the United States and 525 in foreign countries. Of the domestic total, approximately 575 are endangered and 175 are threatened. Just over 400 recovery plans are currently in place, meaning that a plan exists for only about 55% of listed species. The typical wait between receipt of a petition for listing a species and listing has been !\\!o to !pree years. Under the recently signed agreement, federal agencies will propose for listing some 400 species for which evidence exist!! to demon!!trate the po!!sible need for listing by September, 1996. Further, final consideration of 900 other species which may be worthy of protection, but for which no definitive information exists, will be handled more quickly. The number of protected domestic species could more than double in a relatively short period of time. WATER RESOURCES . National Water Policy The Natural Resources Law Center (NRLC) of the University of Colorado has published a list of recommendations developed by a selected group in hopes they will be useful to the new Clinton-Gore chairman - Dave Kennedy executive director - Craig Bell Administration. The group, which consisted largely of environmentalists and academics, and included two Congressional staff representatives, developed 47 recommendations over the 2y, days of the meeting, held near Long's Peak, Colorado, on December 6-8. The report notes 'a major movement toward water policy reform already afoot at the local, state, tribal, regional and federal levels,' and advises the Clinton Administration to develop a national, rather than federal, water policy. However, its recommendations call for a significantly stronger federal role in water allocation, reallocation, management and protection. The report announces four objectives for sustainable water use: (1) water use efficiency and conservation, (2) ecological integrity and restoration, (3) clean water, and (4) equity and participation in decisionmaking. It then sets forth Its recommendations which are divided into proposals for the first hundred days of the Clinton Administration and for the next four years. For the first 100 days, the group recommends that the President seek Congressional approval of the Environmental Protection Agency as a cabinet level agency, and then sets forth seven recommendations by which the federal government could improve water use efficiency and conservation. With regard to ecological integrity and restoration, the group recommends that the President announce strong support for reauthorization of the Endangered Species Act, expansion of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, and strong support for the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit program. The group urge!! the Administration to support annual investments of $28 over the next four years to assist communities in complying with the Safe Drinking Water Act. The group also urges the President to bolster the commitment of the U.S. to protect Indian water rights, both in implementing negotiated settlements, and representing tribes in litigation.