Planning for Water Development and Endangered Species Recovery in the Yampa River Basin

Development of water resources in the Colorado River Basin is complicated by, among other things, the fact that the river contains four native fish species listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). To address the issues related to resource development and compliance with the ESA, the states of Colorado, Utah and Wyoming have joined with the U.S. Department of Interior, Western Area Power Administration, and representatives of the environmental and water development communities, to form the Recovery Implementation Program for Endangered Fishes of the Upper Colorado River Basin (Recovery Program). The purpose of the Recovery Program is to facilitate recovery of the listed fishes, a goal greater than the avoidance of jeopardy required by ESA, while water development proceeds.