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HUGH A. SHAMBERGER of the users of the Colorado River stream system. It provided that the working committee approved at the 1945 organizational meeting, would serve as directors until their successors were elected. I think it would be of interest to name the first Board: Arizona Victor l. Corbell, Governor Salt River Valley Water User's Association Evan T. Hewes, Chairman Colorado River Board of California and President Imperial Irrigation District D. W. Sexton, Secretary South Western Water Conservation District Alfred Merritt Smith, State Engineer Fisher Harris, Attorney for Metropolitan Water District of Salt Lake City, and Chauncey Sanberg, Mayor, Hurricane Perry W. Jenkins, Executive Manager Green River Development Company Mr. Smith was appointed to serve as President, and Perry W. Jenkins as Secretary-Treasurer. During the first seven years the Association met at different times in Las Vegas, Salt Lake City, Phoenix and San Diego. Starting with the 8th Annual meeting, they have all been held here in Las Vegas, the last few being here in the Riviera. California Utah 1 I , I I Colorado Nevada Wyoming Hearings on the Treaty were held by the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate in Washington D. C. Members of this Association were present and strongly protested the proposed terms but the proponents won. There was, however, the inclusion of eleven reservations within the compact that to some extent, lessen the injury to the Colorado River Water Users. While the Colorado River Water Users Association was primarily organized to fight the pro- vision of the proposed Mexican Treaty, there remained many major problems which needed the atten- tion of the water users of the seven states of the Colorado River Basin. This Association has seen many of its resolutions acted favorably upon to the benefit of the Basin and water users. It has had the effect of bringing all of the water users of the seven states together for discussions and suggestions and this has brought about a better understanding. We have been meeting in a friendly atmosphere and certain- ly this has been beneficial. Just recently the $1.3 billion Colorado River bill was signed into law by the President, which climaxes a long battle among the seven states of the Basin. This bill contains a number of important provisions, among them the approval of the Central Arizona Project, approval for a number of dams in the Upper Basin States, and the Dixie Project in the Lower Basin; the establishment of a basin fund; a priority for California to 4.4 million acre-feet annually; a policy declaration making delivery of 1.5 million acre-feet of water allocated by treaty to Mexico, a responsibility of the Nation as a whole; and a directive to the Secretary of the Interior to report by 1977 on a reconnaissance study for the purpose of developing a general plan to meet the water needs of the Western United States. In conclusion let me say that it is my opinion that when the history of the water development on the Colorado River is written, and no doubt it will be some day, this Association certainly deserves an important chapter. I -6-