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G-~""':l lJ tJ ~ __ l . . Presentation to the Western States Water Council on Implementing the Regional Planning Provlsions of the Colorado River Basin Project Act by Daniel V, McCarthy, Bureau of Reclamation I have been asked to discuss with you today the plans of the Bureau of Reclamation for complying with the provisions of the Colorado River Basin Project Act with respect to regional planning, This J am happy to do but my discussion necessarily will be general, As of now we have not decided upon any detailed order of procedure, principally for the following reasons; first, the Act was approved quite recently, barely two months ago, Second, except for some general funds, we are not financed to conduct the required studies, Third, the final report is not due until June 30, 1977, and the first progress report until June 30, 1971. Hence, we have turn- ing room and time to organize for a thorough going effort, and Fourth, although I doubt it will have much if any effect, the change in Administration could conceivably influence the direction and conduct of the studies, Thus, at this time we have given only preliminary thought to the organization and conduct of the study, We plan to have a meeting in January of concerned Reclamation personnel to discuss the various aspects of the study, to draw up definite goals and to develop proposals to accomplish them, I hope to take from this meeting some ideas as to how best the studies might be conducted, In the legislation and in the legislative history of the Colorado River Basin Project Act there are some definite guidelines as to what is contemplated and expected of the studies, We also have some tentative ideas as to how we will proceed which I will review briefly at this time, The Act itself directs the Secretary of the Interior to conduct full and complete reconnaissance investigations pursuant to Reclamation Law, and pursuant to the Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 with respect to coordination, for the purpose of developing a general plan to meet the future water needs of the Western United States, The conference report on S, 1004 goes into some detail as to the type of studies intended and is the major item of legislative history, Although many of you, I am sure, are familiar with that report, I believe that it would be helpful here to read the pertinent section of the conference report. It reads as follows;