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<br />000622 <br /> <br />WATER RIGHTS <br /> <br />The integrity of state water laws has long been debated in Congress and <br />in the Courts, The Western Governors' Conference, June 28, 1967 at West <br />Yellowstone, Montana, adopted the following resolution which the Western States, <br />Water Council wishes to present to the Public Land Law Review Commission <br />as their position with respect to the state water laws and rights, <br /> <br />Resolution adopted by: Western Governors' Conference <br />1967 Annual Meeting <br />June 28, 1967 <br />West Yellowstone, Montana <br /> <br />III. STATE WATER LAWS AND RIGHTS <br /> <br />WHEREAS, Recent actions by the U.S. Forest Service in Oregon (and <br />elsewhere) suggest that certain federal agencies are mounting a concerted <br />campaign to pre-empt control of the use of interstate waters originating on <br />federally-owned and controlled lands; and <br /> <br />'. WHEREAS, This campaign constitutes not only a serious threat to property <br />and livelihood of water users dependent upon an assured supply from these <br />sources but also a direct assault upon the principle of supremacy of state <br />water laws; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, This historic principle has traditionally been recognized hi <br />the westem states, not only in federal and state law, but also in the enabling <br />~ts by whi~h many of these states were a~tted to the union, as the basis <br />upon which water rights are derived; and <br /> <br />WHEREAS, The preservation of this principle is absolutely essential for <br />the protection of the property and human values which have been derived <br />and settled thereunder and for the continued development and prosperity of the <br />western states and the national economy; <br /> <br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the 1967 Annual Meeting <br />of the Western Governors' Conference at West Yellowstone, Montana, recom- <br />mends and strongly urges that the Congress take immediate and effective <br />action to dispel this threat by clear and unequivocal statute upholding the <br />principle of state water law supremacy and removing all questions of doubt <br />that have developed in recent years by reason of administrative rulings and <br />judicial decisions. <br /> <br />-24- <br />