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( ( ( . . 0254 lNrROOucrION The twelve western states, rrembers of the Western States \\later COlillcil, . . express the following .~... ~ observations concerning the 77 page Task Force rep:>rt, released by the President's water p:>licy implementing team in June of 1979. The detailed ccmrnents which will follow this intrcrluction are intended to be constructive and helpful and are directed specifically to the various sections of the rep:>rt and the many recarrnendations mde by the. Task Force. However, it would be inappropriate to make these con- structive suggestions without preliminary canrrent regarding the setting and atmosphere which the western states sense as they make these canrrents. More than tv.D years ago, the President announced his'intentions to institute significant water p:>licy refonn. The states were concerned that there would be an encroachment up:>n areas of state responsibility and those fears were heightened by initial widesweeping options that were published by the federal govermnent. The water rights area was the area in \~hich the \~estern states felt the most concern. The many rronths of deliberations alla.-red for a great munber of rreetings and the exchange of many ideas. Much has been accanplished to eliminate proposals that would not be in the interest of either the states or the federal government. Still, there lingers the concern over the p:>tential encroachment into the area of states I responsibilities. On several occasions, federal officials given specific responsibility far the implementation of the President 's refonn, have assured the states that the water right doctrines of the various states will be respected. Assurances have been given by the Assistant Secretary of Interior for Water and Land, by the Secretary of Interior, and by the Vice:"President. However, because of continuing concern expressed by officials of western states, including western governors, the President met with the governors and stated, "I want to make clear frcrn the very beginning that there absolutely will be no preemption of state or private prerogatives in the use of management of water. This is not the purpose of the p:>licy at all." This assurance by the President addressed the total spectrum of ,vater management and did not limit his pranise to the question of state-federal water rights. This premise was welcaned by western governors and did much to facilitate further cooperation arrong state ar.d federal officials working on the details of the p:>tential refonn effort in the \mter right area. This built on a previous presidential statement which indicated that the federal government would be willing "to negotiate in the area of reserved water rights and settle such rights in an orderly and final manner, seeking a balance with conflicting and established water uses." The President went on to say that agencies are to, "Utilize a reasonable standard when asserting federal resexved rightS which reflect true federal needs rather than theoretical and hypothetical needs based on the full legal extension of all p:>ssible rights. In consultation with the Depart:Irent of Justice, each of you shall develop proca:1ures and standards far the purpose of implementing these directives."