Upper Colorado and San Juan Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Implementation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2005

Madam Speaker, I am the lead sponsor of H.R. 3153, the identical House measure to S.1578 under consideration today. This bill is quite simple. It will reauthorize the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs for 2 additional years. This action is necessary to complete the capital construction of these two successful efforts.

The program's existing authorization is set to expire in fiscal year 2008. However, construction costs have increased faster than the consumer price index over the past several years due to factors such as an improved economy and increased energy costs.

This measure's two-year extension of the programs' existing authorization will allow the Bureau of Reclamation to continue providing cost-sharing for these programs. More specifically, S.1578 would authorize the Bureau to expend an additional $15 million in cost- sharing funds for the Upper Basin programs, while recognizing an additional $11 million in non-federal cost-sharing.

It is important to note that this bill maintains both a cap on expenditures and a sunset provision on the time frame for those expenditures, as intended in the original authorization.

I would also like to draw attention to the bipartisan support this bill has garnered. The House bill, H.R. 3153, was introduced with 12 original cosponsors, comprised of the entire Utah and New Mexico delegations and all but one of the Colorado delegation--all of the states affected by these two programs.

I have been a strong supporter of these programs because they effectively balance the goals of continued water supply and usage with the recovery efforts of four endangered fish populations.

It is these kind of on-the-ground programs that Congress should be encouraging to ensure endangered species recovery efforts are locally supported and results-driven.

Passage of this bill represents Congress' acknowledgment that locally-driven programs with real recovery goals is the best approach toward species conservation.

Mr, UDALL of Colorado. Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bill, and to thank Chairman Pombo and Ranking Member Rahall for making it possible for the House to consider it today.

This bill, cosponsored by both of Colorado's Senators, will reauthorize and expand the authority of the Bureau of Reclamation to undertake capital projects for the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fish Species in the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basin Recovery Implementation Program.

I am a cosponsor of the companion bill, H.R. 3153, which was approved by the Resources Committee last year and which is also cosponsored by my Colorado colleagues, Representatives DeGette, Salazar, and Beauprez.

The Upper Colorado and San Juan recovery programs were established in 1988 and 1992, respectively, through broad-based cooperative agreements that provide for the active participation of the States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming; the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service; the Bureau of Reclamation; the National Park Service; the Western Area Power Administration; the Bureau of Land Management; the Bureau of Indian Affairs; the Jicarilla Apache Nation; the Navajo Nation; the Southern Ute Tribe; the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; the Colorado River Energy Distributors Association; water development interests; and several environmental organizations.

These successful programs are meeting their dual objectives of recovering 4 endangered fish species--the Colorado pikeminnow, the humpback chub, the razorback sucker, and the bonytail chub--while allowing needed water development to proceed in compliance with the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Key parts of the programs are construction of fish hatcheries, fish screens, and fish passage structures as well as habitat restoration and management.

So far, these programs have provided ESA compliance for over 800 water projects that provide more than 2.5 million acre-feet of water per year.

However, because of increased construction and property acquisition costs, the amounts authorized to be appropriated for the program are no longer adequate to fulfill the program goals. In addition, the authority for capital construction projects is scheduled to terminate in 2008, even though projects currently underway cannot be completed by the program termination date.

To respond to those needs, this bill will extend the authorization through 2010, increase the amount authorized for the Federal share of project costs, and raise the limitation on the total costs of projects.

The Bureau of Reclamation has informed us that prompt action on the legislation is necessary if they are to take advantage of a window of opportunity to begin work on recovery-program projects before spring runoff and flash floods make it necessary to wait until next year.

I think we should not lose precious time. So, I am glad that the House is considering this bill today and I urge its approval.

Madam Speaker, I speak today in support of the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization Act of 2005. These important programs are helping us to recover four endangered fish species along the Colorado and San Juan Rivers.

It is essential to these western Colorado water communities that Congress reauthorize the program so we can continue with recovery efforts. I would also like to emphasize that both the Upper Colorado River and the San Juan River are vital water supplies to western Colorado. Over 1,000 water projects are reliant upon the waters in these rivers and tributaries. You can imagine the difficulty of trying to coordinate species recovery with the needs of so many water projects. But that is exactly what we have been able to do and I am proud of their work.

This program can serve as a national model for public and private partnerships for endangered species recovery. It allows water development in accordance to the State and Federal laws to continue while the partners work to recover the endangered fish species. As an individual water user I appreciate how this program does not pass the depletion burdens onto individual water projects and users. It is also very impressive that these partners have been able to work towards species recovery without a single lawsuit filed under the Endangered Species Act.

While water wars are historic throughout the West, this cooperative partnership among the affected parties is truly historic. This is a good bill and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Madam Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the Senate bill (S. 1578) to reauthorize the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery implementation programs.

Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Madam Speaker, S. 1578, sponsored by Senator Wayne Allard from Colorado, reauthorizes the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basin endangered fish recovery programs.

Congresswoman Cubin of Wyoming, a wonderful resource on the Resources Committee, is the sponsor of the House companion measures, and she should be commended for her hard work on this bill.

The dual goals of those programs are to recover four endangered fish species and to ensure that local citizens can continue to use the rivers for their economic, social and cultural needs. Unlike much of the Endangered Species Act's activities, these programs have performance measures and benchmarks to determine recovery progress. As a result, the programs enjoy broad support among various users.

This reauthorization will allow for the last installment of the needed construction projects to enhance fish recovery. I urge my colleagues to support this bipartisan bill. I applaud Mrs. Cubin as the sponsor of the House companion measure.

Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, we yield back the balance of our time.

Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

The Upper Colorado and San Juan endangered fish recovery programs are often cited as examples of good agency performance under the Endangered Species Act. The Department of the Interior has worked closely with State agencies, water users, and environmentalists to implement these fish recovery programs.

The programs are tightly managed and effective. S. 1578 will increase the cost ceiling for these important activities and will ensure the programs will continue without interruption. Madam Speaker, we strongly support the passage of S. 1578.

Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.