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The Pueblo Chieftain Online <br />Page 3 of 3 <br />Colorado will strive both to develop a plan for coping with a "call" on the river <br />here and to coordinate the state's plans with those of the other uppe r basin <br />states Utah, Wyom nd New Mexico. n the mean im , eorge said he <br />expects all severtrr at �I undertake serious talks about how to <br />share in the problem if, indeed, Lake Powe dries up Tah-Zrerels not enough <br />water to satisfy the lower basin of California, Arizona and Nevada. <br />� Geor o is that the lower basin needs �torecon�ize hat water <br />shortages �e s by all seven state eZrpper basin. <br />If not , he said, the secretary of the U.S. Department of Interior - who currently <br />is Gale Norton, former Colorado attorney general - will be the one to make <br />decisions on how to administer a water shortage throughout the West. <br />Historically, the Colorado River Compact "has worked virtually without a hitch" <br />since 1922, George said. One reason was the construction of Lake Powell to <br />store water collected in wet years for release to the lower basin in dry years. <br />Even though the compact was a creation of Congress, George said, "I h_ ave notes, <br />seen any reason ct and tae -law s ri r_aren't <br />adequate to deal with the -probijem. I have no reason to think there's anything <br />for Congress to fix." <br />Any approach will carry political implications, though not nearly as political as <br />sending the compact back to Congress for rewriting. <br />From Colorado's perspective, the reason to not reopen the compact is simple: <br />California alone carries the political clout to control a congressional outcome. <br />California has 55 representatives and senators in Congress. Add 10 from <br />Arizona and five from Nevada, and the lower basin commands 70 votes. The <br />upper basin has only 22 votes, including nine from Colorado, five each from <br />Utah and New Mexico and three from Wyoming. <br />We just can't win a water fight against the political and economic power of <br />California, Arizona and Las Vegas. <br />George expressed hope that Colorado and the other six states fed by the <br />waters of the Colorado River will agree to work it out among themselves before <br />a civil war breaks out in the West. <br />. v <br />Research Director Tom McAvoy is a member of the editorial board. <br />©1996- 2004The Pueblo Chieftain Online <br />http : / /www.chieftain.com/print.php ?article= /editorial /1093154400/2 8/23/2004 <br />