Briefing Paper to Accompany the Proposed Upper CO River and San Juan Endangered Fish Recovery Act

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Briefing Paper to Accompany The Proposed Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1997 Background The Colorado River Basin is home to 14 native fish species; eight of these have seriously declined; and four species -- the Colorado squawfish, razorback sucker, bonytail chub and humpback chub -- are listed as endangered under the federal Endangered Species Act. The endangered fish are protected by state and federal laws. The federal Endangered Species Act declares that endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife and plants are of aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational and scientific value to the nation and its people. In passing this Act, Congress expressed its intent that endangered species should be protected and recovered. In order to comply with the federal Endangered Species Act two cooperative intergovernmental programs have been established: the Cooperative Agreement to implement the Recovery Implementation Program for the Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River dated September 29, 1987; and the 1992 Cooperative Agreement to implement the San Juan River Recovery Implementation Program dated October 21, 1992. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the Utah Department of Natural Resources, the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Western Area Power Administration, environmental organizations like the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund, water development interests, and federal power customers are the main participants in the Upper Colorado River Program. The Colorado Department of Natural Resources, the state of New Mexico, the Colorado Ute Indian Tribes, the Navajo Indian Tribe, the Jicarillo Apache Indian Tribe, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Western Area Power Administration, environmental organizations, water development interests, and federal power customers are the main participants in the San Juan River Program. Through the recovery programs, government agencies, Indian tribes and private organizations in are working to achieve recovery of endangered fish while balancing the continuing demands for water in the and West. The participants are equal partners in the recovery programs and decisions are made by consensus. The recovery programs works within state laws and support water development under interstate water compacts. The programs have also allowed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to streamline its required consultation process and has reduced financial burdens on water development projects.