WSP12185

• File Number: 8067
• Description: Section D General Federal Issues/Policies-Section 7 Consultations
• Date: 6/1/1979
• Title: Federal Water Rights 1973-83-Report of Federal Task Force on Non-Indian Reserved Rights
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

001973
recommendations. In order to understand the results and recommenda-

tlons, some background Is necessary.

"

I I . BACKGROUND

A. The Task Force

.' -~

r

The Presl,dent's July, 12, 1978 directive on federClI reserved water

rights was one Of thirteen directives Issued bv the President on that

date covering various aspects of the President's Water Polley Message

which was announced on June 6, 1978. Pursuant to each of those directives,'

task forces were established to organize and coordinate Implementation

of the water polley, with ultimate ImplementCltlon responsibility delegated
to the agencies receiving the directives. The Secretary of the Department
of the Interior, with the assistance of OMB and CEQ, was assigned the
responsibility of overseeing and Insuring agency Implementation.

The Task Force on Federal Non-Indl'an Reserved Water Rights was

designated as Task Force 5a, with leaderShip delegated to the

Solicitor Of the Department of the Interior. The Task Force consisted

of representatives from (I) the Department Of the Interior, representing

the Bureau of Reclamation, Bureau of land Management, National Park

Service, and Fish and Wildlife ServIce; (2) the Department of Agriculture,

representing the Forest Service; (3) the Department Of Defense, represent-

Ing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Navy and Air Force; (4) the
Department Of Energy; and (5) the Department Of JustIce. The Solicitor
of the Department of the Interior designated John leshy, Associate Solicitor
for Energy and Resources, to chair the Task Force on federal reserved

rights and, along with the Special Assistant to the Assotlate Solicitor

for Energy and Resources Gary Fisher, to coordinate TaSk Force efforts.

-3-

.'