The Nature Conservancy Supports Extension of Critical Base Funding for Collaborative Recovery of Endangered Fish in the Upper Colorado River Basin

ARLINGTON, VA— September 22, 2009 —In testimony today before the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, The Nature Conservancy joined with Western Resource Advocates, the State of Wyoming and the Colorado River Electric Distributors Association in expressing broad support for the passage of House Resolution 2288.

“This bill would extend base funding from federal hydropower revenues for two collaborative programs on the San Juan and Upper Colorado River systems for the recovery of four federally listed fish species,” said Terry Sullivan, Senior Policy Advisor for Water Resources at The Nature Conservancy. “The funding would be extended through fiscal year 2023, coinciding with the recovery goals set for these imperiled species and with the recent extension of cooperative agreements between the five states drained by the Upper Colorado River Basin and the responsible federal agencies.”

These programs enable the recovery of these native fish through improved management of federal dams (including Flaming Gorge, Aspinall and Navajo), river and floodplain habitat restoration, active native fish stocking, and the control of non-native fish species. They also enable water development and management to take place in compliance with both the Endangered Species Act and interstate compacts and state water laws and provide ESA compliance for continued operation of federal water and power projects in the Upper Basin.

Currently, these programs are nearing the end of a capital construction phase in which there has been significant non-federal cost sharing. Although important capital projects remain, especially for the San Juan Program, rigorous adaptive management is now needed to fully utilize these significant and shared capital investments. Through this approach, program managers and stakeholders will work together to assess the effectiveness of the ongoing fish habitat and population management actions and to adjust these actions to ensure continued progress towards the recovery goals.

“Extension of the base funding for these recovery programs from the federal hydropower revenues generated in the Upper Basin is critical,” added Sullivan. “This base funding, which is also cost-shared, will be cut by almost 40% starting next year without the passage of H.R. 2288.”

The Conservancy voiced its concern in the hearing today that that such a cut would undo these collaborative programs and the chances for endangered fish recovery and orderly water management in the Upper Basin.

“These four fish species are an important barometer of the health of the whole Colorado River system, but our only real hope of pulling them back from the brink of extinction is to work with everyone else that depends on this great river western river,” said Taylor Hawes, the director for the Nature Conservancy’s Colorado River program. “We also must maintain such partnerships in coming decades to manage on water resources in a way that protects and restores these native fish and their habitat. HR 2288 gives us and the Colorado River that opportunity.”

The Nature Conservancy is a leading conservation organization working around the world to protect ecologically important lands and waters for nature and people. The Conservancy and its more than 1 million members have protected nearly 120 million acres worldwide. Visit The Nature Conservancy on the Web at www.nature.org.