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MIV.I~KM Kr..l.UMMf..~UA I JU~;) (18) Wilhin Ihc first year of the Administration. the Presi- dent should make a major. comprehensive address on water policy incorporating the recommendations of this repon. (J9) The President should create a Water Task Force of federal. Stale. and tribal governments to develop a SU3legy for better coordination in the developmem and implementation of national water policy. The Task Force should study proposals for a new agency or other SlIUctures consolidating all federal water man- agement functions and programs. (20) federal agencies with water program responsibilities should look for opportunities to delegate to or share management responsibilities and regulatory authority with governments Ii the level most closely affected by program decisions. including local. state. tribal. and regional governments. This should be conditioned upon compliance with federal standards. Authority for citizens to bring suit in federal coun to compel compli- ance with federal standards should attend the transfer of regulatory authority. (21) The Administration should appoint a broad-based group of federal. state. tribal. and citizen representa- tives to study the imposition of federal. state. or tribal fees for the diversion and use of Wiler for hydropower. navigation. and other commercial purposes as a means of promoting more effICient use of this public resource and providing funds for water management and watershed restoration. The study should consider impacts on low-income families. exemptions for small water users. the retention of proceeds' in the basin of origin. and the ability of marleet mechanisms and other existing institutions to achieve the same goals. Water Use Efficiency and Conservation (22) The Secretaries of the Interior and Defense should reevaluate existing or authorized Bureau of Reclama- tion and Army Corps of Engineers projects in light of comemporary needs and standards. including stan- dards of water use efficiency. to identify opportunities for conjunctive use. water marleeting, and the accom- plishment of other federal goals, and should seek reauthorizations and deauthorizations as appropriate. (23) The Secretary of the Interior should conduct an ongoing federal project contract review process triggered by requests Jar modifications. expirations, and other opportunities not covered by another estab- lished procedure such as for water transfers. CO!'lracts should be renegotiated to reflect contemporary water needs, pricing for efficiency, and facilitating realloca- tion of project water. 10 (25) I nc: xcreWlCS OJ U1C IDle nor ana LJlClensc snawa promulgate regulatiOOl to fdilate ~ encourage marketing of water from federal proJeClS to promote efficient water uses to the extent CDIIIistent willi rbe ecological integrity of affected ... and the. ~ nomic vitality of communities in _ area of ongm. The Secretary of the Interior should.1Itilize the pending Reclamation Ref anD Act nalemakiDa to modernize conservation practices at federal war projects and undenake aggressive enforcement of Ihese conserva- tion requirements. The Administrator of the EP A should develop incen- tives for water use effICiency and amervation. The EPA should: (a) Make loans and gnuus. in coonlination with the SOU Conservation SeJVice (SCS). for dem0115lJ'a- don programs to encourage agricul~ wate~ conservation as a means of addft:ssing nonpolJU source pollution; and (b) Establish a clearinghouse for elm and informati~n regarding agricultural and municipal and industnal water conservation methods. Federal agencies investing in conservation should take full advantage of existing federal aDd state programs designed to proteCt cmserved wau:r IS instream flows (such as the SWe of Washington's InISt water rights program). In addition. the Adminisuation should create incentives for states'to adopt programs that dedicate a portion of conserved Wafa'to instream flow and ocher environmental purposes including ground- water protectiolL The Administratioa should provide incentives for contracting agencies and customers to improve efficiency in use and distribution of federal project water. The Secretary of the Interior, in the case of Reclama- tion projects. and the AdminiSU3UJrofthe EPA. to the extent permitted by cunent law sIDIld encourage water pricing by urban water utilities promoting water conservation - e.g., eliminate tI~ block rates - provided that adequate safeguuds are instituted to mitigate the impact on low-income families. The EP A. Health and Human Services Department (HUS), and Housing and Urban Deve10pmem Depan- ment (HUO) should coordinate to provide opponunities for water conservation in low-income urban (public housing) and rural mas. Economics will dramatically limit die development of new water supplies. New projects sbould be planned and authorized by Congress only to meet the highest priority needs. The Administration should treat environmental quality as equivalent 10 regional l~if ) (26) (27) (28) (29) (30)