“The purposes of this Act are to provide a means whereby the ecosystems upon which endangered species and threatened species depend may be conserved, to provide a program for the conservation of such endangered species and threatened species, and to take such steps as may be appropriate to achieve the purposes of the treaties and conventions set forth in subsection (a) of this section.”

- Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531§ 2(b)

The Endangered Species Act declares that Congress recognize that all federal departments and agencies must attempt to conserve endangered and threatened species and shall use their authority to support the objectives of the Act.

It is further declared that all federal agencies must cooperate with both state and local agencies in attempting to resolve water resource conflicts involving the protection and rehabilitation of endangered species.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior are the lead agencies under the Endangered Species Act, working with other federal agencies, as well as state and local authorities, to meet the objectives of this act.