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COLORADO RIVER BASIN MANAGEMENT STUDY: FINAL REPORT ISSUES THAT INVOLVE THE INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK OF BASIN MANAGEMENT D. LARRY ANDERSON DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES, Dlv. OF WATER RESOURCES SALT LAKE CITY, UT I believe there are perhaps three major issues under which all other might be grouped: (1) water resource allocation among uses (e.g., conservation storage, flood control, hydropower, in-stream flow, etc.); (2) increase of effIcien- cy in meeting the allocations; and (3) distribution of bene- fits from river operation. As examples how some listed examples might be categorized, the first four issues under #1 (hydropower) would be placed under 'distribution of benefits' (the last would be an allocation among uses issue), most of the institutional framework issues relate to 'increase of efficiency', and most Native American issues are associated with 'distribution of benefits'. D~AN BLINN NORTHERN ARIZONA UNIVERsiTY FLAGSTAFF, AZ The basin is too large for a single commission, I suggesl sub-basin commissions. The Flathead Basin Commission in Montana is a good model. All agency leader and equal members of informed citizens are at same table talking about the implications of monitoring and data for water quality, feasible, JIM BROOKS NEW MEXICO FISHERY RESOURCES OFFICE ALBUQUERQUE, NM My experience has been that there is usually a solution to the problem, Basin-wide planning, particularly if you can employ a modeling process for consumptive uses, forces all sides to cooperate. BUREAU OF RECLAMATION MEETING BOULDER CITY, NV Long term implications of land resource connected to water and power resource. The land the facilities sit on, e,g" Navajo Steam Plant pro- ject renegotiations. If land negotiations fall through, need to find new site. Or, uncertainties with resources not fed- erally owned; associated resources. BILL BURKE LAKE MEAD N RA BOULDER CITY, NV More long-range planning is needed to identify and con- sider all agency needs that are affected by Colorado River management. JAMES DECKER ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION DURANGO,CO Institutional framework is organized against water man- agement strategies, Law of the River as presently config- ured militates against cooperation and towards adversarial management; protecting states rights and river basin rights. Use it or lose it legal and social attitude reduces possibilities for institutional reform, This permeates the system down to water conservancy choices. BUR~AU OF RECLAMA1"ION MEETING PHOfNIX, AZ Sugg~st the need to look at things on a broader scale. Find things that are doable in each Regional Stakeholder Meet!ngs. What can we do in the next year and how do we do it] e.g. get Fish and Wildlife Service, The Nature Conservancy, Reclamation, state Fish and Game, etc. to sit and look at river and do it. Coojdination of long-term interagency budgeting process. Alte1native to litigation is key as planner, because we need franjework. We have 90-95% agreement and hire lawyers to fight over the other 5%. I like this one. I Ma~agement structure fails to respond often, but especially in b\1dget process. No flexibility to get together and solve things without relinquishing some power in the individual agency. 15s* is where does BOR get in the way for good water mmhgement. Where can Bureau's input be positive, e.g. mo~ng water around from big projects for drought plan- nin~. It hasn't been done. Ovhall issue is that something is happening on the river, anc\ we don't want to miss the opportunity to sit down and cOlTle up with a management structure that works. When the; boat turns over, you can right it however you want. Physical problems amenable to physical solutions are often de4ided by politicians. Not rational from a physical sense. W~at happens after the prior appropriation phase? , T~ere is no common vision on how to manage, and no agreed upon goals and objectives or process to meet those gobls. Must look at where we can save things and where do w~ just do our best to hold the line. Bureau planning pro- gr~ms in the 60's could be model. Right now we act like wt can save everything and it doesn't look like we can. N~PA process, and maybe Endangered Species Act process, art reactive, not proactive process. There is a need to sit drwn and find shared vision. Existing system creates road- blocks and fights. B:UREAU OF RECLAMATION MEETING DjENVER, co Proposed rules from Bureau of Reclamation for lower basin nranagement. , Irability of Law of River to allow interstate marketing. ~eed for Las Vegas to expand its uses, lack of flexibility in o\ment mechanisms to allow them to use other unused ~rea. Deals also with population growth. Cultural resources is major issue not yet represented.