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supply conflicts. According to DOI information, Water 2025 has two purposes: providing a basis for public discussion of <br />the realities that face the West so that decisions can be made at the appropriate level in advance of water supply crises; and <br />setting forth a framework to identify problems, solutions and a plan of action to focus the conversation as the DOI works <br />with states, tribes, local government and the private sector to meet water supply challenges. <br />In announcing this initiative, the Secretary of the Interior noted that crisis management is not an effective solution <br />for addressing long -term, systematic water supply problems and that ongoing water crises in the West demonstrate the <br />consequences of failing to strategically address the problem of competing demands for a finite water supply. The DOI <br />further recognizes that states, tribes, and local governments should have a leading role in meeting these challenges. DOI's <br />initiative proposes focusing attention and resources on areas where scarce federal dollars can provide the greatest benefits <br />to the West and the nation. <br />In some cases, collaborative approaches and market -based transfers can use water banks or other means to meet <br />emerging needs. Federal investments in research and development can provide more affordable water treatment <br />technologies, such as desalination, to increase water supplies in critical areas. <br />The CRWUA believes the Department of the Interior must focus efforts on and dedicate increased funding on <br />maintaining existing water project infrastructure,, establishing a more proactive infrastructure rehabilitation program and <br />developing additional storage capacity. Severe fiscal constraints have caused important Bureau maintenance items to be <br />deferred. The Bureau of Reclamation must continue to ensure that annual federal budgets contain sufficient funding to <br />maintain existing infrastructure in order to insure optimal operational efficiency. <br />One of the biggest problems facing water districts today is the timely rehabilitation of existing infrastructure. As <br />existing facilities and infrastructure continue to age, many districts are increasingly faced with rehabilitation costs that far <br />exceed their ability to repay under current regulations. We believe it is imperative that the Bureau of Reclamation and <br />Congress address this growing problem before it becomes a crisis situation. Water users are simply looking for a program <br />that will allow them to accomplish much needed rehabilitation work and repay the costs over a reasonable period of time. <br />In the West, water infrastructure is every bit as important as transportation infrastructure. It is essential to the <br />continued economic growth and development of the region. Water infrastructure needs continue to exist. The West <br />continues to experience an incredible rate of growth. Nine of the ten fastest growing cities are in the West; yet, over the <br />past thirty years the development of new significant storage capacity has been minimal. <br />Resolution No. 2006 -18 - -- MAINTAINING FINANCIAL STABILITY OF THE UPPER <br />COLORADO RIVER BASIN DEVELOPMENT FUND <br />The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) and the Western Area Power Administration (Western) should <br />implement cost - cutting measures and strategies to improve the status of the Upper Colorado River Basin Fund and stabilize <br />the Colorado River Storage Project (CRSP) power rate, and to work in partnership with the CRSP customers to develop an <br />operational, financial, and rate - setting strategy that addresses hydropower impacts associated with the effects of recurring <br />drought in the Basin, creates a sustainable cash flow and maintains a viable power rate. <br />The Colorado River Water Users Association encourages the passage of federal legislation that would make <br />available non - reimbursable appropriations to the USBR and Western; to ensure ongoing funding of CRSP operations and <br />other required annual funding obligations. <br />Position Statement - -- Maintaining Financial Stability of the Upper Colorado River Basin <br />Development Fund--- (Resolution No. 2006 -18) <br />The federal CRSP hydropower and delivery systems were authorized by Congress to provide a wide range of <br />significant benefits to millions of citizens in the West, including: <br />• Flood Control <br />• Irrigation <br />• Municipal water supply <br />• Interstate and international compact water deliveries <br />• Lake and stream recreation <br />19 <br />