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<br />February 5, 1971 <br /> <br />0005313 <br /> <br />201 which is to develop a general plan to meet the future water needs <br />of the entire Western United States. He is expected to make such <br />recommendations with respect to feasibility studies as are justified <br />and appropriate, including feasibility studies of augmentation oppor- <br />tunities within the Colorado River Basin States. Also, it is intended <br />that the Secretary, when the lO-year moratorium on studies of impor- <br />tation from outside the Colorado Basin States comes to an end, will <br />conduct snch additional reconnaissance investigations as are justified <br />of importation from outside the Colorado River Basin States and <br />make such recommendations with respect to feasibility. studies as are <br />warranted. He will do this pursuant to existing autbority and in tbe <br />light of tbe investigations and studies he has completed up to that <br />time. <br />The importance to the central Arizona project and to the entire <br />West of the westwide water planning provided for in tbis legislation <br />cannot be overemphasized. Wbile there is disagreement with respect <br />to time, the cold fact remains tbat eventually the water supply for <br />the central Arizona project from mainstream Colorado River water <br />will be reduced to less than 300,000 acre-feet annually unless aug- <br />mentation becomes a reality. . . <br />- The remainder of the language in title II adopted by the committee. <br />of conference is the language of the House amendment with one minor <br />clarifying cbange. Section 202 warrants special mention. This section <br />is a congressional declaration that satisfaction of the water require- <br />ments of the Mexican Water Treaty constitutes a national obligation <br />which shall be the first charge agamst any augmentation project. It <br />relieves both the upper basin and the lower basin from the Colorado <br />River compact requirement covering deliveries of water to Mexico <br />at such time as the Secretary of tbe Interior determines and proclaims <br />that means are available and in operation for delivering annually into <br />the Colorado River system sufficient water to satisfy the Mexican <br />Treaty water requirements together with associated losses. A further <br />provision in the House amendment made sucb relief to the Colorado <br />River Basin States contingent upon the authorization of a plan t6 <br />augment the Colorado River water supply by 2U million acre-feet <br />annually. This provision is retained in the comerence version of <br />S. 1004 which, however, adds clarifying language to indicate that <br />such plan has not only to be authorized but also to be in operation to <br />the extent of providing the additional water necessary to satisfy the <br />Mexican Water Treaty requirements. <br /> <br />i <br />, <br />l <br />t <br />, <br />r <br />~ <br /> <br />~ <br /> <br />In addition to authorizing the Secretary of Interior to conduct the <br /> <br />investigations, the act provides for coordination with activities under <br /> <br />the Water Resources Planning Act. In words of the Conference Report <br /> <br /> <br />Section 201, ".. .provides for coordinated Federal water planning on a <br /> <br />westwide basis." Many Federal agencies are involved in water and <br /> <br />related land resource planning in the West and will participate in the <br />study under authorities available to the agency. <br /> <br />II-4 <br />