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vt100 (CC1 f4Vf STATE OF COLORADO EXECUTIVE CHAMBERS 136 State Capitol Denver, Colorado 80203-1792 Phone (]03) 866-2471 The Honorable Pete Wilson Governor state of California state Capitol Sacramento, California 95814 Roy Romer Governor Stewart A. Bliss Chief of Staff Dear Governor Wilson: I understand that California has requested from the Colorado River Basin states agreement that additional water be released from Lake Mead to help address some of the drought conditions now existing in California. I am concerned about the worsening situation in California. I am willing, on behalf of Colorado, to move quickly to work with the River Basin states and the united states to reach accommodations to assure that the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California receives a full supply of Colorado River water this year. At the same time, I need your assurance that California is committed to formal discussions to resolve the longer term issues on the Colorado River with the other Colorado River Basin states. As we proceed, I believe we should agree at the outset to the following: 1. The discussions and any ensuing agreements on this matter must be addressed at the state level between the states who are parties to the Colorado River Compact. We should not allow any speculative, profiteering interests to have any role in circumventing the existing legal arrangements between the states. The states which are parties to the Colorado River Compact must remain in control of deciding the destiny for how each state will use and develop its share of Colorado River water under the Law of the River. 2. The discussions and any ultimate agreement will be made within the current legal framework governing the Colorado River, and in full recognition of the allocation of water to Colorado and the other six states under the Law of the River.