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<br />e <br /> <br />It <br /> <br /> <br />Herb Guenther, director of the Department of Water Resources, sums it up right: "The <br />midyear review was to see if conditions got worse. They didn't. They got better, so there's <br />no need to make an adjustment." <br /> <br />There are a couple of matters that Norton must weigh carefully. <br /> <br />· Were she to alter the annual operating agreement by her own hand, it's very likely that <br />ongoing talks among the states to develop a long-term criteria for water use in times of <br />shortage would be poisoned. <br /> <br />It is far better for the states to keep talking and work out differences on their own. <br /> <br />· There also is the danger that a decision in line with the Upper Basin argument would be <br />viewed through a political lens. That Norton was currying favor with Colorado, her home <br />state, where she might run again for office. <br /> <br />The best choice is to do nothing. Norton should refrain from tinkering with flows when <br />there is no reason to do so. <br /> <br />The important discussions are still to come. It's up to the states to continue working <br />toward consensus on long-term strategies to deal with water shortages. <br />