| Gov. Bill Ritter today praised
yesterday's passage by the U.S. House of Representatives of
legislation authorizing the Platte River Recovery
Implementation Program. The program will allow Colorado to
work with Wyoming, Nebraska, the federal government, water
providers and other organizations to recover threatened and
endangered species within the Platte River Basin.
The Senate passed the legislation, which is part of the
Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, on April 10.
"This is a major step toward assuring that the Platte
River Recovery Program succeeds," Gov. Ritter said. "Water
providers, environmentalists and Colorado citizens should be
proud that Sen. Salazar, Sen. Allard and Rep. Udall took
leadership roles to support the passage of this
legislation."
"This step allows us to move immediately to take direct
actions to recover the whooping crane, least tern, piping
plover and pallid sturgeon," said Harris Sherman, executive
director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
"The whooping crane is North America's largest bird species,
and through our actions we have been able to bring this
species from the brink of extinction to the highest recorded
numbers in decades."
In 1979, there were just 56 whooping cranes in the wild
flock that uses the Platte River. In 2007, 257 whooping
cranes were counted in the flock.
"This legislation opens the door to land restoration
efforts that are critical to the program's success," said
Ted Kowalski, program manager for the Colorado Water
Conservation Board.
Contact:
Ted Kowalski, Colorado Water Conservation Board,
303.866.3978
Evan Dreyer, Governor's Office, 720.350.8370. |
