HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-049-03/15/1994-ARAPAHO/ROOSEVELT BASIN-WIDE RECOVERY PROGRAM ENDANGERED SPECIES NATIONAL FOREST NEBRASKA PLATTE RIV RESOLUTION 94-49
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
URGING FEDERAL AND STATE OFFICIALS TO SUPPORT THE DEVELOPMENT
OF A BASIN-WIDE RECOVERY PROGRAM
WHEREAS, the cities of Fort Collins, Greeley and Loveland all rely on
various water supply, distribution, storage, and hydropower facilities located
on the Arapaho/Roosevelt National Forest,, with many such fac-ilii<ies having been
operated for several decades, and others having been in existence even longer
than the Arapaho/Roosevelt National Forest; and
WHEREAS, the above-named cities rely upon various permits, permanent rights
of way, and easements which have been authorized by Federal law in recognition
of the needs and rights of state and local governments to continue to operate
such water supply, distribution, storage, and hydropower facilities; and
WHEREAS, several special use permits for existing facilities relied upon
by the above-named cities are currently undergoing analysis by the United States
Forest Service and the United States Fish and Wildlife Service for the renewal
of the special use authorization; and
WHEREAS, the Fish and Wildlife Service contends that the renewal of the
special use permits for the above-named cities may adversely affect various
endangered species in Nebraska along the Platte River; and
WHEREAS, the Fish and Wildlife Service has formulated draft "Reasonable and
Prudent Alternatives" which it believes the above-named cities should implement
in order to avoid jeopardizing said endangered species, and has requested comment
thereon from said cities; and
WHEREAS, the above-named cities believe that the "Reasonable and Prudent
Alternatives" formulated by the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the draft
biological opinion on which those alternatives are based, are technically flawed
and would be extremely burdensome, if not impossible, to implement and would not
aid the recovery of the listed species; and
WHEREAS, the foregoing issues constitute matters of common concern for the
above-named cities; and
WHEREAS, the above-named cities recognize that a comprehensive basin-wide
recovery program involving the states of Colorado, Nebraska, and Wyoming, along
with the appropriate federal agencies and conservation organizations, would be
the most efficient and most equitable method of addressing the complex issues
which have been raised regarding the threatened and endangered species in central
Nebraska that may be impacted by the water resource improvements in the North and
South Platte River basins; and
WHEREAS, the above-named cities have neither the authority nor the
resources to develop and implement such a remov_ery program,_ and that` tthe
responsibility for such a program lies with the federal agencies which are so
authorized.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
that the City of Fort Collins strongly urges all pertinent Federal officials and
all Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming state officials, and other interested parties
to work together to support the development and implementation of a basin-wide
recovery program for any threatened or endangered species which may be adversely
affected by the consumptive use of waters in the North 'and South Platte River
basin, while minimizing the financial and socioeconomic impact of such programs
on the citizens of the above-named cities, and recognizing and respecting the
historic and legitimate water rights of the permit holders.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Counri.l of the City t
Collins held this 15th day of March, A.D. 1994. %`
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A :LCity Cl erk