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<br />.- '$ ~ <br /> <br />they would be accepted generally with cqufmimity by those advers~ly affcc.tcd., <br />Accordingly'. it could be concluded ,that ejlhe,I- \VOSA is nol, 'necessary <br />because it cr~ales no large bene,fits or \VaSA should be'implemented because <br />it creates no large adverse effects. In fact, \VOSA technology is rapidly bc~ <br />comi ng a fact of 'life in the western United States. The tcchriologycannor ~e <br />stopped from developing, even tMugh ccrtainappJications in specific are~s <br />may be.~toppcd. The imp()rtant.question for WaSA gene'rallyis not whether <br />or h<)w it might he stopped,. but how it should be operated. <br />A significant finding is thatWOSA may have more potential economic <br />benelits outside the Colorado River Basin thhn in it. Because of. the emphasis <br />on the Colorado .River aasin, this ~<;ses..~JncD( W~lS only able to make a pre- <br />liminary evaluation of 'the benefit.. in adjacent river basins from the '~spiIJover" <br />pr.ecipitatioll resulting from a Colorado River Basin WaSA pn;>gram. An in- <br />terrelated finding is that should WOSA become Qpcralipilal thr9ugboul sev- <br />, eral large -western river basin.5, the federalgovepiIilcDl may be required to <br />allocate atmospheric moisture on an interstate basis. <br />An important purpose for \VaSA that'wa'l detcl'nlin<.>d in this assessment <br />could be the effect of postponing the time when decisions concerning large; <br />expensive, disruptive, and widely controversial importatiollS of wateriIito the <br />Colora~l<) River-Basin have to be made, WOS1:\ should not buy time merely <br />to put oft' theSe'decisions, but rather time that can be used for technology ,and <br />legal, inStitutional. and. policy innovations concerning walerrcsources develop- <br />ment. This could be ensured, in pArt, by authoriZing a nonfcderal operating <br />authority for \VaSA that would test new institutions.mp waler marketability <br />outside th.e pres~nt public policy environment. <br />Because of these considenitioos, such a \VOSA 'systenl is recommended <br />for the Upper Colorado River Basin. As <Icveloped in this assessment: <br /> <br />It sh()uld be adaptivein that a continuous assessment of its effec~ aod <br />impacts (both real and perceived) would provide control over its insti- <br />tmion and operations. <br /> <br />The public affected by the impacts of WOSA should participate in de- <br />cisions as to how,these impacts would be alleviated. <br /> <br />It ,4;l1ould incorporate a public information exchange program so that <br />the pcoj>lc could have the nccessaryinformatioll 'on which to lllake de- <br />cisions conccmingthe progratn, and the'operatinga.uthorilY could have, <br />an accurate view of the public's attitudes and desires cpticcrning the <br />program. <br /> <br />, It should pr.ovide a, we.athcr' and noOd prediction function and be.opcra- <br />tionally ,coristr'ajn~d to limit tlQl)ding damage. <br /> <br />It should include an avalan~I,le control -systemsui:h that the hai'.<'lrd <br />from, ava1'lllches w'(}uld be reduced to less .than' the l)rc~WOSAsitua.,. <br />tlon. <br /> <br />I <br /> <br />'/- <br /> <br />x.~ <br /> <br />" <br />--4- -- ~ ---__.___.~ __.__'~..__'_'_ <br /> <br />out <br />fical <br />com <br />bro: <br />metl <br />fron <br />atio ' <br />the <br />prol <br />qua' <br />men <br />grar <br />tern <br />Ad <br />asse <br />j~ ca <br />tion <br /> <br />sta~ <br />aslt <br />men <br /> <br />ing <br />diffe: <br />ever <br />neec <br />be iJ <br />and <br />cific <br />coul <br />