WSP01268

• File Number: 8054.100
• Description: Water Salvage - Water Salvage Study - HB 91-1154
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 12/6/1990
• Author: Natural Resources La
• Title: Background Documents and Information 1991 - Report on Irrigation Water Supply Organizations
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

0013?~

difference in achieving results. The structure of the board may be irrelevant to the types of

policies we would like to see carried out by the board. One example is. Kern County where the

county policy against transfer seemed to have more impact on district behavior than did the

structure of the board, Perhaps board make-up should be considered secondary to external

efforts to create opportunities or broaden existing opportunities for irrigation districts,

Maybe tbe first step in determining whetber external pressure would facilitate change is

to identify the source of pressures for district change, If the pressures for change are coming

from constituents within the district, then legislation may not be necessary and issues of

governance (trustee relationship) will be more important. If the pressures are coming from

outsiders who want tbe board to change, tben legislation is definitely needed,

A fundamental element of any water policy is what tbe districts are to do witb the

water. Enabling legislation should be examined to determine how legislative bodies deai with

the powers granted to or reserved from districts. To what extent do legislators dictate the

behavior of tbe districts, and do tbey understand tbey taD control the districts,

The concept of ratchet legislation may be adaptable to irrigation districts, Ai;

institutions or corporations get larger a greater responsibility is generally imposed by the public,

This is done now with cities where responsibilities are imposed Without the cities' taking any

affirmative action. At the same time,tbe cities are given more power as they get larger and

perhaps this idea could be applied to irrigation districts. There could be some process whereby

districts wou1d be subject to greater eXternal control as they grow larger or as they assume

more responsibility. One form of control may be authorizing ~ sf:8te representative to appoint a

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