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.Vv( I I think the matter of at least trying to es- tablish this permanent pool is of considerable. importance. We have tried to place in the language of the bill every possible safeguard to vested rights in the Arkansas Valley, and the further provision that no permanent pool can be established and maintained without the written. operating principles being adopted by the Arkan- sas Compact Administration, the State Engineer of the State of Colorado, and the United States Corps of Engineers. Even if this legislation in some form passed the Congress, a tremendous task lies ahead in attempting to secure and purchase water rights for the establishment of this perma- nent pool. Whether that can be done or not I do not know, but we first have to secure authority to use the reservoir for that purpose before our State Game and Fish Department can acquire any options on water. Eventually, of course, our staff would work out any water rights and evalu- ate any water rights for the Game and Fish De- partment. The purchase, of course, is something we have nothing to do with. If this water is purchased it will have to be done by the Game and Fish Department. At this time, I think all I can do is recom- mend to the Board that we approve legislation in substantial accordance with what has been drafted, with such modifications as may later be adopted. Actually this is a Congressional matter. \1hat may be done in the Congress is an entirely dif- ferent thing as to what this Board can do. All we can recommend to our Congressmen is that they attempt to seek legislative authorization for the establishment of this permanent pool. How that can be done in the Congress is something that we can't control. I As I say, generally the water using agencies in the Arkansas Valley are not opposed, nor is the State of Kansas opposed to the principles that we are trying to establish here. There is some doubt as to whether or not it can be done without modification of the Arkansas River Com- pact. Our attorneys - our Attorney General and our Board's attorney - are of the opinion that it can be done without modification of the com- pact by the expedient of this legislation. The Corps of Engineers is of a similar opinion."