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<br />OUl~36 <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />"rights" are Impaired by the exercise of a reserved right could be ex- <br />pected to mount efforts either to have Congress provIde such compensation <br />voluntarily or have the agency forego the exercIse of the reserved right. <br />Foregoing the exercise of the right In turn would eIther mean the reserva- <br />tion purposes could not be accomplIshed, or necessary water rights would <br />have to be condemned or otherwise acquIred, In which case substantial <br />outlays In federal funds might be required. <br />There Is another adverse consequence of delay largely unrelated <br />to state concerns. In some areas of the West, the Task Force believes <br />that the potential for conflict over water rIghts among federal agencies, <br />and between federal agencies and Indians, Is at least equally as great <br />as the potential for conflIct between federal agencies and the state and <br />prIvate users. Early clarification of water rights can minimize these <br />conflIcts as well. <br />Fifth, the status quo means that federal water rights are Iden- <br />tIfIed and quantifIed apart from the land and other resource manage- <br />ment planning processes each agency has established. This Is at odds <br />with the fact that, for almost al I federal agencIes, water Is not used <br />as an end In Itself, but as necessary to carry out land and resource <br />management programs authorIzed by Congress. IdentIfying and quantifyIng <br />water needs through the land and resource management planning process <br />to the greatest possIble extent is not only more sensible, but also easler, <br />sImpler and therefore less expensIve. <br /> <br />-25- <br />