Legislation to protect endangered and threatened native fish in the Colorado River is heading to President Joe Biden’s desk.
The bill puts millions of dollars toward fish monitoring and infrastructure upgrades. That’s expected to help farms, cities, and tribes that use the river’s water avoid federal penalties for hurting fish habitat.
Abby Burk with the National Audubon Society isn’t surprised the bill got bipartisan support.
“I feel that the demonstrated success of bringing people together with water projects in support of our connection to the river stands on its own, that when we really get down to the core of it, we all depend upon river health,” Burk said.
The bill will help protect four different species of fish — including the humpback chub, which was recently downlisted from endangered to threatened.
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