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<br />000823 <br /> <br />Bennett W. Raley <br />Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, <br />Department of the Interior <br /> <br />Las Vegas, Nevada <br />May p, 2004 <br /> <br />We face three questions today in the Colorado Basin. <br /> <br />Will the drought continue? <br /> <br />The simple answer is that we know that we are in the 5th year of a drought, but do <br />not know if it is the 5th year of a 5-year drought or the 5th year of a 15-year <br />drought. <br /> <br />The second question is will the 1922 compact and the law of the river survive the twin <br />tests of a drought and the explosive growth that we have experienced in the West? <br /> <br />While it is fashionable amongst self-proclaimed water experts to predict the death <br />of the Compact and the failure of the law of the river, on December 31, 2002, <br />Secretary Norton proved that the system is quite capable of fulfilling its intended <br />purpose of allocating shortages of water. And while I have neither the credentials <br />nor the expe rience that would be required to be an expert in this area, it is <br />obvious to me that the Law of the River provides the tools that will be required to <br />address an extended drought. <br /> <br />The third question is if the drought does continue for another decade, what will be the <br />fate of the 30 million people that rely on the Colorado River for water, the farms of the <br />Basin, and the environmental resources of the Colorado River? <br /> <br />Even if the drought continues, the cities and the economies of the Colorado River <br />Basin will have plenty of water to grow and prosper. Our agricultural sector will <br />inevitably look different, but it will continue to be a major factor in the Colorado <br />River Basin. And while we will have to work even harder to protect the 4 <br />Colorado River fish species, as long as we understand that it is impossible to <br />return to a "pristine" environment without depopulating the West, we will be able <br />to achieve a level of environmental protection and restoration that will be <br />supported by the people that live, work, play and visit the West. <br /> <br />Prepared Remarks - Keynote Address <br />Law of the Colorado River <br /> <br />Page I of 8 <br />