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<br />o <br />o <br /><::) <br />.... <br />C':I <br />C':I <br /> <br />C IO-2~ <br /> <br />Colorado Water Conservation Board <br /> <br />RECOVERY PROGRAMS <br />UPPER COLORADO RIVER BASIN <br />SAN JUAN RIVER BASIN <br /> <br />PURPOSE <br /> <br />The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of the Recovery Implementation Programs <br />for the endangered fishes in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins, The sununary <br />addresses the reasons for the institution of the Recovery Programs, what the goals and objectives <br />are, what Colorado's role is and what is being done to resolve the issues and concerns associated <br />with the programs. <br /> <br />Recovery Implementation Program Background <br /> <br />Four fish species inhabiting the Colorado River Basin have been federally listed as endangered: <br />the Colorado squawfish, the bonytaiI chub, the humpback chub and the razorback sucker. Each <br />of the four fishes were once abundant in the Upper Basin, however, they have declined in <br />numbers and are now threatened with extinction from their natural habitat. The current status <br />of these species has been attributed to direct loss of habitat, changes in water flow and <br />temperature regimes, blockage of migration routes and interactions with nonnative fish species. <br /> <br />The U,S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Service) has maintained since 1978 that a jeopardy situation <br />exists because of these factors and has concluded actions must be taken to offset them, The states <br />of Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah playa key role in determining water development in the Upper <br />Colorado River Basin, and thus have an interest in legal requirements that could constrain water <br />resource development. The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) is responsible for the operation <br />of federal reservoirs that regulate delivery of supplies of water for beneficial uses. The Western <br />Area Power Administration (WAPA) markets hydroelectric power generated at Federal water <br />projects within the Colorado River Basin. All federal agencies and actions are mandated by the <br />requirements of federal law including the Endangered Species Act of 1973. <br /> <br />In order to meet federal regulations, assist in the recovery of these species and assure that the <br />Upper Colorado River Basin states can continue developing their compact apportioned waters, <br />a Cooperative Agreement between the States of Colorado, Wyoming and Utah, the Secretary of <br />Interior, and WAPA was signed in January 1988. This established the Recovery Implementation <br />Program for the Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program). <br />Water development and environmental groups participate in this Recovery Program as well. The <br />purpose of this Recovery Program is to recover and delist these four fish while allowing water <br />development to proceed by restoring and establishing self-sustaining populations and protecting <br />sufficient habitat to support populations, <br /> <br />I <br />