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. 000174 . under the treaty. As a result, Colorado is facing a severe problem in that the state is finding it more and more difficult to construct storage facilities to retain the water that runs off during the critically high runoff period of May, June, and July. The lower basin states have developed a high percentage of their alloted Colorado River water, while Colorado has not been able to stay abreast in the development of the state's water resources. The present restrictions placed on upper basin devel- opment in the form of budgetary cuts are putting the onus on the state for the solution to a problem that had its primary origin in other states. It is the intention of the Board to look closely at the conjunctive use potential of its water supplies, particularly in the Colorado River Basin. Staff reorganization and enlargement will permit emphasis on such endeavors. In addition, such reor- ganization and enlargement will result in the capability to make environmental assessments and to explor~ various alternatives and their associated environmental impacts. The staff is already involved in setting minimum stream flows that would be necessary to propagate fish and wildlife. The state, through this Board, will then file on this water to preserve these flows and prevent the inevitable overappropriation of the streams and their resultant demise. The Board staff is presently involved in studying the proposed Flat Tops Wilderness area proposal and a proposal for a portion of the ColoradO River to become a part of the national wild and scenic rivers system and recommending that both proposals be passed into law, thereby protecting these environmentally important areas. The Board is presently negotiating for water acquisitions to establish and maintain permanent pools in John Martin Reservoir on the Arkansas River; Trinidad Reservoir on the Purgatoire River; Chatfield Reservoir on the South Platte River; and Bear Creek Reservoir on Bear Creek, a tributary to ,the South Platte River. Flood Plain Manaqement The Board is working in conjunction with federal agencies in the flood plain management program to develop flood hazard data for the state's riverine areas. Due to rapid development and growth, much development pressure is being placed on the flood plains; therefore, the Board is developing the staff to take a most active role in this field. Active studies are presently under way within all the major basins for selected communities. 20