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PROBLEMS bI RECOMMENDA2ION5 • Establish an Associate Director for Natural Resources and Cultural Resources in all regional offices and establish resource management divisions in all parks with significant natural resources. 3 Uncertain Water Rights: Ensure legal protection for park waters under the reserved right doctrine and other water right systems by: ^ Reaffirming that a park's reserved right protects all water needed to avoid impairment of the purposes specified in the National Park Service Organic Act. ^ Clarifying that existing flows or levels of unappropriated park water are protected by the National Park Service Organic Act, and thus by a park's reserved right. ^ Clarifying that federal lands designated as Wilderness have a reserved right that protects water for wilderness purposes. ^ Clarifying that the Park Service may acquire and hold appropriative as well as reserved rights for the purpose of maintaining instream flows. ^ Providing funding for the purchase of water rights as necessary. ^ Establishing an independent office of legal counsel for the National Park Service to provide representation in all administrative and legal proceedings necessary to protect park waters. • Revising Park Service Management Policies to require vigorous assertion of federal reserved water rights to serve all purposes specified in the National Park Service Organic Act. 4 Dams and Diversions: Protect park waters from unneeded, destructive dams and diversions by: ^ Requiring watershed-based planning for important park watershed lands. ^ Prohibiting any dam or diversion that will impair park waters unless it is based on a water right "senior" to the park's right, and unless there are no prudent and feasible alternatives to meet essential needs and all possible steps will be taken to minimize harm to park waters. ^ Prohibiting any federally-assisted dam or diversion that is likely to impair park waters. ^ Requiring existing federally-assisted dams to modify flow releases to avoid or minimize impairment of park waters. ^ Reauthorizing and strengthening the Endangered Species Act to better protect critical habi- tat of endangered species. • Completing "suitability" studies of all park rivers potentially eligible for designation under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 5 Geothermal Development: Protect park geothermal resources by amending the Geothermal Steam Act to prohibit any geothermal development activity that could adversely affect park thermal features. 12