Basin States' Comments on Draft Environmental Impact Statement, CO River Interim guidelines for Lower Basin Shrotages and Coordinated Operations for Lake Powell and Lake Mead

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In order to become effective, the seven states' proposal for managing the Colorado River must be adopted by the United States Secretary of Interior. The Secretary is currently reviewing the states' proposal and a final decision is expected in December. "The Secretary is the `water master' for the lower Colorado River Basin, and has the final decision whether or not to accept the states' recommendations," said Jim Lochhead, a Glenwood Springs water attorney representing a group of Colorado water users. "However, I think the Secretary must give strong consideration to a proposal that has the backing of all seven Colorado River basin states." Rod Kuharich, director of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the second Gov. Ritter representative to the seven states negotiations, agreed. "Having the seven basin states come together and agree upon a system for managing the Colorado River is a historic accomplishment," Kuharich said. "This agreement may be the most significant achievement in Colorado River negotiations since the Colorado River Compact of 1922."