Upper Colorado River Basin Fish and Wildlife Mitigation

Assistance is provided to recipients to protect, restore and enhance wetland and upland ecosystems for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

The Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA) is contained within Titles II through VI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 (Public Law 102-575). Its purpose is to provide for the orderly completion of the Central Utah Project (CUP), which is the largest participating project of the 1956 Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP). CUPCA does this by authorizing an increase in the appropriations ceiling for CUP, for which Titles III and IV specifically address fish, wildlife, and outdoor recreation mitigation and enhancement opportunities. Title III, specifically Sections 314(c) and (d)1, authorizes mitigation actions to protect, restore and enhance wetland and upland ecosystems for the conservation of fish and wildlife resources in the Upper Colorado River Basin outside the State of Utah.

State and local government agencies, federally recognized Indian Tribes, private or public nonprofit organizations, for-profit organizations, interstate or intrastate entities, and individuals are eligible.

- For Section 314(c) projects, state and local government agencies, Federally recognized Indian Tribal governments, private nonprofit institutions/organizations; public nonprofit institutions/organizations; for-profit organizations, interstate and intrastate entities, and individuals. While entities within the state of Utah are eligible to receive funds under this program, funds must be expended for project activities outside the State of Utah.

Assistance to be used to accomplish project objectives.

Grants and cooperative agreements are normally written for a 1 to 5 year period with funding provided only for the current year. See Renewals, above.

Environmental impact statements or assessments may be required based on potential impacts to the human environment.

- Section 314(c) Projects - Criteria for funding projects have been established by Congress in the authorizing legislation (P.L. 102-575) at Section 314(c). Generally, these criteria require that projects restore damaged natural ecosystems on public lands and waterways affected by Federal Reclamation projects in the upper Colorado River basin. In addition, priority is given to projects that assist recovery of endangered or sensitive species or ecosystems, allow reintroduction of native flora and fauna, control or eliminate exotic pest species, or provide enhanced conservation value to state and local government lands. A complete list of program criteria is available at the address listed in Information Contacts (:151). Projects that leverage grant funds with applicant funds, or in-kind services, will receive bonus consideration, but not automatic preference. Specific evaluation criteria will be included in the annual funding opportunity announcement. -The June Sucker Hatchery and JSRIP Projects are selected under recovery criteria established within the June Sucker Recovery Plan. - The Endangered Species Status Review funds the Fish and Wildlife Service to carry out de-listing and down-listing activities.

Prospective recipients submit Standard Form 424, Request for Federal Assistance and the appropriate accompanying forms, together with a brief (3-4 pages) narrative summary of their project proposal to the CUPCA Office. Funding is provided by means of grants, cooperative agreements, and interagency agreements. Funding agreements are prepared pursuant to applicable administrative rules (2 CFR 215 for colleges, universities, and non-profit organizations; or OMB Circular A-102 for state and local governments and Indian tribes). Typically, these agreements are administered in a manner that reimburses approved expenditures incurred by the recipient. Funds are disbursed by electronic funds transfer; however, alternative funding arrangements are available by negotiation with the CUPCA Office.

Recipients may request renewal of existing projects or additional projects to meet program goals and objectives. Renewals are contingent upon Congressional appropriations to the program, a continued high relevancy ranking based on program criteria, and recipient's satisfactory progress on the approved scope of work.

The Parties agree to work harmoniously to achieve the objectives of the project. When disagreements arise between/among the Parties, they must be resolved according to the procedures discussed below: 1. The Parties shall attempt first to resolve disagreements through informal discussion among the subordinate staff. 2. If the disagreement cannot be resolved through informal discussion, each shall document the nature of the disagreement and bring it to the attention of their respective Project Officer. 3. After reviewing the facts of the disagreement, the Project Officers will arrange a formal meeting. The PARTIES will collectively decide on any varied approaches which might be used to resolve the disagreement. The PARTIES shall be responsible for their individual expenses related to any approach utilized to resolve the disagreement. 4. Ultimately, if all other attempts at resolving the disagreement fail, a decision will be made by the Department of the Interior whose decision shall be final and conclusive. Any post award issue will be open for resolution in accordance with the above procedures, with the exception of continuation of the assistance agreement, or other matters specifically addressed by the agreement itself.