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<br />.. r.: .1 ;-1 <br />1 Jl.i1....' <br /> <br />the seven-state Committee of Fourteen. As a result of an intensive <br />effort, Mr. Brownell submitted his report to President Nixon on a <br />confidential basis by the end of 1972. <br /> <br />Followup activities required by the 1964 Arizona v. California <br />Supreme Court decree required our continued attention. Agreement had <br />been reached among the parties on an informal basis for the major <br />claims in Arizona and California on the pre-1929 present perfected <br />rights in 1971. However, it was necessary to expend considerable <br />effort in 1972 working with the California Attorney General to <br />identity and quantify many minor miscellaneous present perfected rights <br />claims and obtain agreement with other parties to the suit. With <br />the miscellaneous claims agreed upon, it is hoped the parties to <br />Arizona v. California will soon be able to arrive at a final settle- <br />ment of present perfected rights. <br /> <br />The Lower Colorado River Management Program Coordinating Committee <br />which was formed in 1971 was active in 1972. This Committee which is <br />composed of federal and state officials interested in water and environ- <br />mental matters on the Lower Colorado River meets quarterly to advise <br />the Bureau of Reclamation. During the year the Committee considered <br />potential backwater lakes in the Mohave Division, studied several new <br />management proposals in the lower Parker Division, studied the problems <br />of fish and wildlife losses in the Cibola Division due to channelization, <br />and reviewed plans for recreational developments along the River. <br /> <br />Litigation concerning the right of the Secretary of the Interior <br />to fill Lake Powell and back the lake waters into a small portion of <br />Rainbow Bridge National Monument continued during 1972 without being <br />decided. If the plaintiffs win and the Secretary is limited to <br />utilizing only one-half of the capacity of Lake Powell, there will be <br />a major impact on all Colorado River Basin States. <br /> <br />The Board, as in the past, will face difficult problems in the <br />future in protecting the rights and interests of the State and its <br />agencies and citizens in the water of the Colorado River System. It <br />is our intention to continue in our endeavors to meet these problems. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />ND R. RUMMONDS <br />Chairman and Colorado River <br />Commissioner <br /> <br />4 <br />