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declining water tables in many parts of the aquifer led to a request to Congress for a study of the problem. Section 193 of the 1976 Water Resources Development Act (Public Law 94-587) authorizes and directs the Secretary of Commerce to study the depletion of water resources of the Ogallala Aquifer and to develop plans to increase water supplies in the area. THE ROLE OF THE CORPS The 1976 Water Resources Development Act assigned overall responsi- bility for the High Plains Study to the Department of Commerce (DOC). The DOC has in turn contracted the day-to-day management of the study to the consulting consortium of High Plains Associates. The consortium consists of the firms of Camp, Dresser, and McKee; Black and Veatch; and Arthur D. Little. All work is directed by the High Plains Study Council composed of representatives of the six participating States of Nebraska, Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. Section 193 of the act specifically directed the Corps to perform the water transfer studies. During the course of the study, the Corps reported to the High Plains Study Council and coordinated with the High Plains Associates and with the involved States. The results of the Corps' studies will be presented to Congress through the DOC. GOALS The goal of the water transfer studies is to determine the engi- neering feasibility, costs, and environmental effects of transferring water to the High Plains from adjacent areas. All studies were con- ducted at the reconnaissance level using simplified cost estimation techniques. The techniques were developed specifically for this study and are described in the Design and Cost Manual, which is Appendix E. A2