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002561 Effects of the Arizona-California Boundary Settlement The States' common boundary has become undefined because of changes in the main channel of the Colorado River. The adminis- ration and enforcement of the laws and rights of the United States and the two States accordingly has become difficult. As a result, essential channelization work has been impeded, fish and wildlife programs forestalled, and needed recreational areas not developed. Recently, the legislatures of the States of Arizona and California approved an interstate compact fixing their common boundary. While the compact cannot become effective until approved by the Congress, agreement by the States affords a basis for planning beneficial developments along the river. Upon approval of the compact by the Congress, plans can be implemented which will result in conservation and salvage of water, better fisheries, wild- life habitats, and recreational areas. Resolving the judicial and jurisdictional problems will also aid future Federal and State planning and development along the boundary. Future Water Needs It is apparent that the expanding water needs of the Pacific Southwest can be met in the future, only through the construction of complex and costly water-resource development and conveyance facilities. The era of low-cost water in this area has, for all practical purposes, come to an end. Agricultural--Although millions of acres of highly productive lands are available for development throughout the Pacific Southwest, it is obvious that the expansion of the irrigated acreage is gener- ally precluded by the high cost of making additional water available by import or desalting. It is equally apparent that the agricultural economy now established must be sustained for its contribution to the economy of the area and of the Nation. While a supply is not assumed for any increase in irrigated acreage, except where a local undeveloped supply is available, supplemental water will be made available to maintain the present agricultural economy. As presently irrigated lands are subdivided and converted to urban uses, the irri- gation water supplies nOw available will be transferred to municipal and industrial uses. The irrigated acreage will thus decline as urbanization continues. These criteria, of course, would not apply to the various Indian reservations throughout the Pacific Southwest where water supplies have been reserved for expansion of the irri~ gated acreage. Also, additional water will be required in national forests and on public lands to extend the cppability of rangelands for livestock uses. 11-12