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• and disposition of power revenues and project develop- <br /> ment and financing <br /> Presently, these issues are discussed in any number of frag- <br /> mented ways, i.e. , the Salinity Control Forum, Pacific Southwest <br /> Interagency Committee, legislative debates, informal discussions <br /> and other ad hoc forums . Creation of the proposed forum would <br /> provide a central means for discussing these issues and their <br /> interactions. <br /> This forum would specifically not address issues related to <br /> Colorado River Compact interpretation and administration. There <br /> are two reasons for this. First, the California water users <br /> would strongly object as a practical matter. Secondly, the com- <br /> pacts already speak as to how these matters are to be addressed <br /> through the agencies and commissions already in place. <br /> The proposed organizational format for this forum would be <br /> patterned after the Salinity Control Forum. The forum would be <br /> informal having no stature as a formally organized entity under <br /> either federal or state laws . It would serve primarily to pro- <br /> vide lines of communication among the seven states . Presently, <br /> this should be both adequate and appropriate given the tasks at <br /> hand. Further thought and research may however indicate that <br /> some sort of formal non-profit corporate or association status <br /> under law might be desirable. This would allow the forum to <br /> enter into contracts, receive funds and hire full time employees <br /> if deemed desireable. <br /> Structurally the forum would again be fashioned after the <br /> Salinity Control Forum with three representatives per state being <br /> appointed by the governors. One would represent traditional <br /> water development and administrative interests, another water <br /> quality interests and the third a wide range of interests. The <br /> organization should operate on the basis of consensus and absent <br /> a consensus would take no position. Thirdly, it would operate <br /> under a committee or workgroup concept with respect to the <br /> various issues. Work in the name of the forum would be provided <br /> by the staffs of the state agencies involved. Finally, funding <br /> would be provided as done by the Salinity Control Forum through <br /> state assessments following the same formula. <br /> During the discussion, Board members raised several concerns <br /> and recommendations which should be called to the Governors ' <br /> attention when this proposal is presented to the Governors of <br /> other Colorado River Basin States . <br /> These concerns followed by Mr. McDonald 's recommendations <br /> are summarized briefly as follows: <br /> 1 . Federal agency involvement in the Forum <br /> • The federal agencies should be involved extensively in <br /> advisory capacity. The forum would be a state organization <br /> -23- <br />