WSP04641

• File Number: 8021
• Description: Section D General Correspondence-Western States Water Counci
• State: CO
• Date: 9/20/1965
• Author: Ivan P Head
• Title: Development of Western States Water Council
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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WESTERN STATES \':: ~ER umNcn

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Ivan P _ Head, l,drr,inh. t.rator
Colorado River Commission of Nevada

Present",..:. 1,;0

NINETEENTH ANNUAL NEVADA WATER COKF6REt'CE
Carson city, Nevada
septenmer ~C, 1965

The development and preserv~tion of the natural resources
of the West have been the paramount o-.,)2ctivE' of lhe West for many
decades. As we become more cogni :ant or th~ prob'e,ns of preservation
and development of those resourC8~ we Embar~ on I-ng0r-range plans
for their development. \..ater h<:.s o._,,,o.J.; b",,-;., aT'c. \~l.ll ahlnys he,
our most precious resource. There haVE. beeu ;nany bitter and v:i.")J.ent
arguments over the development and use of the waters of our eivers.
At first. these were controversies between nel.ghbor;.ng farn\ers,
spreading to intrastate controversies. Arguments 'oet"Jeen states
have resulted in many interstate compacts to divide the use of the
waters of indiVidual basins.

We are now entering .tnto a new phose of de,,'elopl1lEnl c)f
OllL wat-e.c resources that has already resulted in cOllLrovers'{ ')et'oJeen
regions and states. 'fhe South\^)estern PoG::J ion of the Unj tec1 Sr.,,'.. es
has gro\oJn beyond its "Iat.er l:esource. The States of the Upper C"loraci<J
River Basin are fast approaching the time when that Rive!:' '.oJiJ.:. tlOt
meet the [Jeeds of .the areas of those States. Long-rdngfl reCjinnai.
development of wate.r lilen becomes the most vit.al and urgent need
of the West if the entire West is to continue to grow.

Our State Gow"rnors have recognized thi.s f,roblem and at
the May 3 to (" 1964 meeting of the Western r,overnors' Conference,
the .Governors of the Stdtes represented considered the .,.,ater develop-
ment potential and needs of the l'Iest. The conference adopted
a resolution calling for i) comprehensj.ve stv.dy of the ~Jater resources
of the Western States. The resolution pointed out that the future
growth and ~rosperity of the West depends upon the availability of
adequate quantities of water of acceptable quality to permit its
use for various beneficial purposes. The resolution recognized
that for the past 15 years a multitude of studies considered the
feasibility of transporting water from areas of surplus to areas
of deviciency. The resolution further recognized that any pr01'osal
for transporting water should include recog,.,.ition that the needs
of the exporting areas are paraMount.

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