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000152 III. NEED AND AUTHORITY The demand for augmentation of the Colorado River flow is directly related to the historic arid conditions of the Basin and the lack of adequate streamflow to meet water needs. Unless the water supply of the Colorado River is augmented within the next two decades, shortages are certain to occur. Water now in reservoir storage will temporarily satisfy the overall Basin demand, but with the completion of new projects, such as the Central Arizona Project, the water supply will not be sufficient, especially in drought periods. In the foreseeable future, water demand from the Colorado River will exceed the natural flow by several million acre-feet annually. Growing water needs are associated with: (a) expanding population and industry in the region; (b) energy development; (c) increasing levels of salinity and other quality problems; (d) maintaining reservoir and streamflow levels for environmental, wildlife, and recreational benefits; and (e) completing water projects now under construction. The Indian water rights issue will place additional demands on the Basin's water supply. Even with comprehensive planning, strict conservation, and modern water- management practices, the natural supply cannot be stretched to meet all projected competing domestic demands and still meet our obl igations under the Mexican Water Treaty. The Secretary of the Interior's responsibilities in the Colorado River Basin include the regulation and operation of the river, contracts for water, declaring water surplus or shortage, accounting for all the water of the Basin, supplying water to Mexico, and preparing and developing augmentation plans to meet water requirements. The Secretary of the Interior is the water master for the Colorado River. Congressional direction to the Secretary of the Interior on augmenting water supplies in the Colorado River Basin is contained in: Colorado River Basin Act of 1968. - The Colorado River Basin Act of 1968 (Public Law 90-537) directs the Secretary of the Interior "* * * to provide a program for the further comprehensive development of the water resources of the Colorado River Basin and for the provision of additional and adequate water supplies for use in the Upper as well as the Lower Colorado River Basin." (Section 102a.) This Act, pursuant to the Reclamation Laws, authorizes the Secretary to construct the Central Arizona Project and the Colorado River Storage Project participating units. Under Title II, the Secretary is authorized to prepare an augmentation plan to meet the water requirements of new projects, existing projects, current water allotments, and the 1944 Water Treaty with Mexico. A national commitment to provide 1.5 million acre-feet together with any associated losses of water from the Colorado River to meet the 9