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<br />USDI Secretary Babbitt on Colorado River Issues <br /> <br /> <br />Page 1 of6 <br /> <br />Basin-Delta <br />Mothersite <br /> <br />CIW Home Page <br /> <br />Salton Sea <br /> <br /> <br />COLORADO RIVER WATER USE <br />ASSOCIATION <br /> <br />1996 Annual Conference <br />Colorado River-Gateway To the 21st Century <br />Caesars Palace, Las Vegas, Nevada <br /> <br />Address by Bruce Babbitt <br /> <br />Secretary of the Interior' <br />10:00 am, December 19, 1996 <br /> <br />Almost exactly one year ago, on the occasion of your 50th annual convention, I c me before <br />you here in Las Vegas to review the status of water administration in the Lower B~Sin and to <br />make some observations about future directions. I then expressed the hope that a onsensus <br />on water management could be forged among the basin states, and that a mediatio process <br />then in place could help to move contending interests closer to a resolution of thei <br />differences, as steps toward sound long-term management in the Lower Colorado iver. <br /> <br />At that time I described in some detail the contentious history of the River, a story that is <br />guaranteed to temper the optimism of even the most hopeful souls. Today I have t report <br />that while I am disappointed that more progress has not been made, I cannot say I m <br />astonished. The Colorado River continues to test the commitment and the enduran e of <br />everyone who has been participating in the efforts of the last twelve months. It als has a <br />nearly limitless capacity to generate new controversy. Before turning to the conten ious <br />matters that face us, however, I want to emphasize some good Colorado River new of 1996. <br /> <br />In April we completed our first spike flow release from Glen Canyon Dam, <br />creating an artificial flood in the Grand Canyon to reestablish beaches and <br />improve the natural habitat in the floor of the Canyon. The release has helped us <br />to manage and improve the ecosystem of the Canyon in ways that exceeded 0 r <br />expectations. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the Basin <br />States, the Tribes, and power users in implementing this unique water <br />management program. <br /> <br />On October 9th of this year, I signed the record of decision completing the GI n <br />Canyon Dam EIS that was begun in 1989. That decision initiated the adaptive <br />management process for future operations of Glen Canyon Dam. This process <br />enables us to operate the dam so as to balance the needs of recreation, the <br /> <br />http://www.sci.sdsu.edu/saItonlsecr_babbitt_CoR_issues.htm <br /> <br />/12/2006 <br />