5 Components of a Compact Negotiation Framewor

• Title: Colorado’s Interbasin Compact Negotiations: Development of an Institutional Framework - Components of a Compact Negotiation Framework
• Date: 12/17/2004
• Author: Russell George, Frank McNulty, Peter Nichols, Eric Hecox
• IBCC - Doc Type: Program Planning, Budget & Contracts

Revised: 7/26/2007

10. Financial Resource and Support
Importance
The literature related to collaborative processes and intersta te compact negotiations
overwhelmingly identify the critical need for adequate funding. Resources will be
needed in two phases. First, resources will be needed to sustain the compact negotiation
process. Second, resources will be needed to implement agr eements reached through the
compacts.

Ideas/Suggestions
?

Resources to sustain the compact negotiation will come from the state. This is a fairly
small amount of money, but there is a need to ensure this funding is available on a
consistent and long - term b asis.

Funding can come from:
o

? SWSI funding;

? Current CWCB appropriations;

? Separate appropriations (the process should be funded long - term); and/or

? Federal funding through Water 2025.

Funding should NOT come from:
o

? Year - to - year appropriations that are at the d iscretion of each new
legislature.

? Only federal funding through Water 2025 as its long - term availability is
not guaranteed.

Anticipated Course of Action
?

State resource will come through CWCB with a mechanism in place to ensure long - term
consistency.
?

Feder al funding through Water 2025 will be pursued on a matching basis. The extra
funding will be valuable for encouraging legislative support as well as federal
government buy - in.
?

It is anticipated that individual parties will pursue funding to implement the agreements
reached through the compacts. However, during compact negotiations the Compact
Commission and the basin representatives will work with the state and federal
governments to identify implementation mechanisms.

For example, SWSI identified the n eed for a mechanism to fund environmental
o
and recreational enhancement beyond the project mitigation measures required by
law. This type of mechanism can be pursued in concert with compact
negotiations.

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