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<br />O(\~?~n <br />UU_'-' ! <br /> <br />E. State-Federal River Basin Commissions <br /> <br />., <br /> <br />Characteristics <br /> <br />.' <br /> <br />Sta te-federal river basin commissions (not to be confused with federal- <br /> <br />interstate compact commissions) were authorized by and created under the <br /> <br />provisions of Title II of the Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 (P.L. 89-80). <br /> <br />The impetus for the authorizing legislation is attributed to the study and <br /> <br />recommendations of the Senate Select Committee on National Water Resources <br /> <br />in 1961 (National Water Commission, 197]). The Act, among other things, also <br /> <br />created the U.S. Water Resources Council and provided federal matching grants <br /> <br />in support of river basin planning and state water resources planning. <br /> <br />Eventually, six Title II river basin commissions were <;reated at the request of a <br /> <br /> <br />majority of their basin states. All were abolished by action of the U.S. Water <br /> <br />Resources Council and President Reagan in 1981, although the authorizing <br /> <br />legislation has not been rescinded. <br /> <br />Title II river basin commissions were composed of their basin states and <br /> <br />certain federal agencies engaged in water resources activities. Some also had <br /> <br />other voting members such as interstate compact commissions within their <br /> <br />basins. Other non-voting, or observer, members were sometimes allowed" The <br /> <br />river basin commissions were headed by a Presidentially-appointed Chairman and <br /> <br />had full-time staffs. A commission Vice Chairman was elected from among <br /> <br />state members and served to coordinate state member activities. The <br /> <br />Chairman, though not a federal agency staff member, coordinated federal <br /> <br />member activities. <br /> <br />-17- <br />