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<br />EXECUTIVE SUMMARY <br /> <br />The Arkansas River Coordinating Committee ("ARCC") was established by Executive Order <br />B 004 94 on August 5, 1994 in response to the July 1994 Special Master's Report in the <br />Kansas v. Colorado litigation and to continue State initiatives in the area of water-based <br />recreation and wildlife in Southeastern Colorado_ The Special Master had found Colorado <br />in violation of a portion of the 1948 Arkansas River Compact ("Compact"). Colorado needed <br />to examine ways in which groundwater was used and administered in the Arkansas River <br />Valley and anticipate changes that might be necessary. In addition, the Lower Arkansas <br />River Commission had identified a series of recreation and wildlife needs in Southeastern <br />Colorado which were dependent on new sources of water supply for successful <br />implementation. The ARCC was created to provide a forum for coordinating plans to meet <br />these two important State objectives. <br /> <br />The ARCC, consisting of water users and local government officials from the Arkansas <br />basin, and Colorado Department of Natural Resources agencies, met approximately a dozen <br />times over a IS-month period between September 22, 1994, and December II, 1995. During <br />this time the ARCC did indeed serve as the forum for the exchange of ideas and a better <br />understanding of the various state and local perspectives on these multi-faceted issues. The <br />ARCC acted as a sounding board for the State Engineer as he developed the new rules and <br />regulations needed to bring well pumping into full compliance with the Compact. The <br />ARCC formally articulated several key recommendations on the preferred solutions to these <br />issues. The ARCC also provided advice to the State and the sponsors ofSB96-124, which <br />brings additional State resources and authorities to bear on Compact compliance and water <br />administration in the Basin. <br /> <br />While the formal existence of the ARCC has ended, State officials and the water users <br />themselves, will continue to work together, building on the relationships fostered during the <br />ARCC process, as the water management needs of the Basin are further refined. <br /> <br />2 <br />