María Elvira Salazar: “I would like to share with you and my esteemed colleagues the importance of the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River…”

“I would like to share with you and my esteemed colleagues the importance of the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Basin Endangered Fish Recovery Program. This program is a premiere example of how to recover endangered fish species while also providing more than 3 million acre-feet of water per year to Federal, tribal, and non-Federal water projects. It has been cited as the most successful fish recovery program in the United States and is used as a model for other recovery programs developed across the country. Today I am happy to see that the House is passing H.R. 2288, to ensure the program can finish the restoration projects identified for complete success. This bill extends the authorization of the program until the year 2023. At that time, the fish species in concern will be fully recovered, and the infrastructure will be in place to ensure continued success. The projects completed to date on the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins are examples of outstanding cooperation among a diverse group of local, State, Federal Government agencies, environmental groups, water users, farmers, ranchers, and utility consumers.”