WSP05306

• File Number: 8200.700
• Description: Colorado River
• Basin: Colorado Mainstem
• Date: 1/1/3000
• Author: Getches and Meyers
• Title: The River of Controversy - Persistent Issues
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

greatly increase costs to both municipal and agricultural users. The relative

inelasticity of the municipal de~and for water would probably mean there would

be little effect on water use for that purpose but greater dislocations could

occur among agricultural users. Unless increased costs can be reflected in

the prices of agricultural commodities (especially beef, which consumes most
tl5
of the crops grown with Colorado River Basin water ) many farmers and ranch-

ers could be put out of business. Alternatively these agricultural users must

find ways co use less water -- a suggestion with considerable promise for

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girding thew against increased competition.

(s:-.ll

APPROACHES TO FUTURE PROBLEMS

There are several approaches that might cut across and address the range

of issues raised in this paper. Some have been mentioned in the discussions

of particular issues. These approaches are suggested, though not necessarily

advocated, as ways that ought to be considered in dealing with the river's

future.

(sI:2)

Revising The Law Of The River

Host problems concerning the allocation and management of river resources

ideally would be resolved by murual agreement of the states acted on by Con-
tl7
gress (i.e., by compacr). History has shown that the requisite assent of

the parties is tremendously difficult to obtain. Further compacts among the

Colorado River Basin states perhaps have the greatest promise where the

parties already are in general agreement and have a common ground for imple-

~enting their intentions.

Congress c.ould take unilateral action to revise or interpret the "Law of

the River." The prospects of it doing so are slight unless considerable in-

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