Ken Buck Praises Passage of Bill to Steward Colorado’s Water Resources

For Immediate Release

Wednesday, March 14, 2018

Contact: Kyle Huwa, 202-225-4676

Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Ken Buck (CO-04) praised the passage of H.R. 4465, the Endangered Fish Recovery Programs Extension Act. This legislation, which Rep. Buck co-sponsored, passed the House of Representatives overwhelmingly last night and will now go to the U.S. Senate for consideration. The bill continues an important consensus effort by environmentalists, government, and water users to protect fish species while ensuring that our state’s precious water resources can still be used for recreation, drinking, and agriculture.

“Communities across the 4th Congressional District rely on water from the Colorado River,” Rep. Ken Buck stated. “This legislation allows those communities to thrive while still protecting our endangered species. Working together, Coloradans have proven that they are the best stewards of our state’s precious natural resources.”

The legislation continues base funding for the Upper Colorado and San Juan Recovery Implementation Program. This program, which began in 1998, assures compliance with Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements to protect 4 endangered fish species native to the Colorado River while also permitting river water to be used by residents across Colorado who depend on it. Several water projects supplying the 4th Congressional District rely on the accessibility of water in the Upper Colorado river basin, including the Arkansas-Fryingpan Project, the Colorado Big Thompson Project, and the Windy Gap Project. 

###