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<br />~j <br />~ <br />~ <br />~l <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />While the assessment provides very positive findings on water sup- <br /> <br />ply availability and minimal adverse impacts, ~everal factors must be <br /> <br />viewed with caution. The Colorado River is presently utilized fully. <br /> <br />Depletions in the Upper Basin are already over 27 percent of the natural <br /> <br />water supply. With probable future conventional uses, water depletions <br /> <br />will increase to 37 percent of the supply. A 3-million barrel per day <br /> <br />synfuels industry would deplete about 3 percent of the supply; with this <br /> <br />added to conventional uses, the total depletions would be over 40 per- <br /> <br />cent of the Upper Basin supply. As depletions increase, the intensity of <br /> <br />water management must also increase since the implication is that each <br /> <br />drop of water must be more fully used to its potential. This is particu- <br /> <br />larly true during the annual dry season and periodic droughts, which may <br /> <br />last several years. <br /> <br />Institutionally, the Colorado River system is complex. Synfuels <br /> <br />development will pose new challenges to the existing water management <br /> <br />structure at all levels--international, State/Federal, interstate, intra- <br /> <br />state, and local. Increased coordination among the various governing <br /> <br />bodies will be needed to ensure that the necessary water management will <br /> <br />be achieved. This coordination should also extend to land management <br /> <br />agencies, particularly where use of public lands for energy development <br /> <br />is involved. Individual States can and should serve as a focal point to <br /> <br />strengthen planning, coordination, and implementation of water and land <br /> <br />use management. Individual States can and should also maintain liaison <br /> <br />with the development plans of the synfuels industry as well as provide <br /> <br />for public awareness and discussion of water management options. Inter- <br /> <br />state cooperation can be achieved through existing institutions. <br /> <br />1-3 <br />