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w ~ Publ it Participation <=> r-.:,; Salinity control planning studies are conducted by a multidisciplinary pldnning tedlTl aided by contractors in some instances, as appropriate. and the general public. The planning teams are organized, as provided by the Principles and Guidelines. to be multiobjective 1n scope and multidiscipli- nary in participation. The team is usually composed of representatives of interested Federal. State. and local agencies; businesses; independent organizations; and concerned individuals. In the complex salinity control studies encountered thus far, the planning team has been divided into specialized subteams to address specific issues related to engineering, environment. hydrology, land use, economics, recreation. biology, sociology, and cultural resources. The teams or subteams conduct i n....es t igat ions as necessary and seek pub 1 ic input into en....ironmental scoping. alternati....e plan formulation and e....aluation. and recommended plan selection. Public information and in....o1....ement acti....ites include public meetings and workshops. newsletters prepared by the planning team. field tours, and personal contact with team and subteam members. Among the public meetings held are en....ironmental scoping, alternative plans. and plan selection. In add it i on, se....er al pub 1 i c re.... i ews are regu 1 ar 1 y schedu 1 ed throughout the course of study to re....iew the planning report and the draft en....ironmental statement. legal and Institutional Constraints Water rights. - Water rights in the West is an issue that affects e....ery project. Through interstate compacts, Acts of Congress. court decrees. and an International Treaty, water entitlements of the se....en Basin States and Mexico have been established. Those entitlements are all subject to water a....ailabilityon a fairly well-defined priority basis. At the present time, only California and the Republic of Mexico are fully utilizing their Colorado Ri....er entitlements. Arizona, Nevada. and New Mexico now have works under construction which wi 11 allow full use of those States I entitlements within the next decade. Colorado. Utah. and Wyoming look to ha....ing their entitlements fully utilized soon after the turn of the century. The loss of water through beneficial uses is the major cause of anticipated salinity increases in the next 20 to 30 years. Collaboration rather than litigation is the most effective way to resolve water management disputes. Upper-Lower Basin disputes. Indian reserved water rights disputes, and even intra-State (east Slope/west slope) disputes involving water uses and entitlements could provide the basis for future confrontations that would delay water resource project implementation. The Colorado Ri....er Basin Sa1 inity Control Forum has been charged with resolving some of the water rights issues in a collaborative manner before any possible litigation delays the program. The following discussion outlines some of the water rights issues that have arisen. 27