8013

• UCREFRP Catalog Number: 8013
• Author: Pontius, D. and I. SWCA.
• Title: Colorado River Basin Study.
• USFW Year: 1997.
• USFW - Doc Type: Tucson, Arizona.
• Copyright Material: NO

Colorado River Basin Study

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At the outset of this report, it is stated that there should be goals and
objectives against which water policy and management decisions should be
measured. Whether efficiency, equity, and sustain ability accurately reflect
the basin's current goals is problematic; what is important is that a vision be
developed that does reflect the basin's values and objectives for the next
century. This report suggests some recommendations that might be starting
points. They are:

· The basin states and Secretary of the Interior should agree on and
formalize a cooperative management structure for the basin to address
and resolve major water management issues affecting the public
interest and which defers to state implementation and management
wherever possible.

· The federal government should undertake a thorough review with the
basin states and tribes over the next several years to determine how
the various agencies could be reorganized to provide more efficient,
cost-effective service in administering their programs without
sacrificing the national interest or trust responsibilities. In addition,
whenever feasible, federal agencies with water management programs
and responsibilities should be organized along watershed or sub-basin
boundaries.

· A centralized and integrated data center for the Colorado River basin
should be established to collect and provide a comprehensive, reliable,
scientific and economic database that is electronically available to all
who need it.

· The Secretary, basin states and Indian tribes, with input from other
interests, should agree on a plan for reservoir operation and surplus
and shortage criteria that is equitable to all interests and meets
federal statutory obligations and treaty obligations to Mexico.

· An interstate water bank should be established in the Lower Basin
along the lines proposed by Arizona, with maximum flexibility for
marketing and banking water, including tribal water.

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