Wayne Allard: “today I am introducing the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1998, legislation…”

“today I am introducing the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River Endangered Fish Recovery Act of 1998, legislation that is designed to authorize activities taking place on the Upper Colorado River Basin and the San Juan River Basins to protect various endangered fish species. The legislation is the product of meetings between water districts, power users, state and federal governments, and environmental groups and by no means reflects consensus. What it does reflect is a bargaining point that all agree is the proper place to begin. At the request of these groups I am introducing this legislation. I would also like to include in the Record letters requesting that I introduce this legislation. I want my position to be clear, it is my view that authorizing legislation should provide certainty to water users in Colorado under the Endangered Species Act and should also allow Coloradans a greater ability to develop their full allotment of the Colorado River. It's also my view that the Fish & Wildlife Service, who are preparing a biological opinion on the program, should reach the conclusion that the program meets the criteria necessary to reach that goal.”