The bipartisan Upper Colorado and San Juan Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Reauthorization bill passed out of the U.S. Senate earlier this week, setting the stage for seven more years of critical federal support for native fish species in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk. This milestone represents a continued commitment to protecting threatened and endangered fish species while balancing the needs of water users in the region.
“The reauthorization of these recovery programs will be a win for Colorado's ecosystems, water users and communities,” said Lauren Ris, Director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). “These programs have been instrumental in recovering native fish species while safeguarding water development projects across the Upper Basin. CWCB is proud to contribute to these efforts as both a leader and partner.”
The program, originally set to expire in 2023, was extended last year through bipartisan efforts from the Colorado congressional delegation. And once signed by the President, the bill will extend the programs through 2031.
With this reauthorization, the programs will, over the next seven years, continue recovery efforts for the endangered and threatened fish species. Authorized funding will support infrastructure improvements, research initiatives, nonnative species management and the operation of fish hatcheries and passage structures. These actions will enhance the resilience of native fish populations while ensuring water users can continue to thrive in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.
At the heart of the programs are four native fish species: the Colorado pikeminnow, razorback sucker, humpback chub and bonytail. These species faced significant challenges from habitat loss, altered river flows and climate change, which ultimately led to the species being federally listed as endangered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The Recovery Programs are working to recover these species while simultaneously providing Endangered Species Act (ESA) compliance for water users. Program activities include data-backed conservation strategies—for example: stocking endangered fish, reconnecting habitats, managing river flows, and combating nonnative species.
CWCB and Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff are critical to these efforts, serving as experts and committee members at multiple levels, funding local projects that support Recovery Program efforts, and providing on the ground support for Program activities. These collaborative efforts have shown continued success, for example: in 2021, the humpback chub was downlisted from endangered to threatened.
In addition to the State of Colorado, key partners in the program include the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, the states of New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, Tribal governments, water users and conservation organizations.
“This program has already delivered remarkable progress in recovering our native fish species while supporting water development,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. “I’m thrilled to see its continuation, and I am encouraged by the strong bipartisan support in Congress and in our Colorado Congressional delegation. The recovery program will build on past successes to continue to protect these iconic fish species in the Upper Colorado and San Juan River Basins and to ensure ESA compliance and assurance for Colorado water users and water projects in the years ahead.”
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