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<br />RAPHAEL J. MOSES
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<br />meets when necessary betw0en the quarterly meetings of the full Council.
<br />
<br />The Water Policy and Legislative Committee is charged with the "study of the social, ethical,
<br />legal and political aspects associated with interstate water resources development, and recommenda-
<br />tions on policies and courses of action relative to the role of the Council in relationship with the Water
<br />Resources Council, pertinent river basin commissions, appropriate federal agencies, the member states
<br />and the legislatures of these states; federal and state statutes affecting interstate water resources de-
<br />velopment; needs for new legislation; 'area of origin' assistance and protection; and the possible disso-
<br />lution of existing interstate or federal-state committees, councils or inter-agency groups." The Policy
<br />and Legislative Committee is to develop and recommend basic assumptions, objectives, principles and
<br />criteria for guidance of the Council in the fields of policy and legislation.
<br />
<br />The Water Resources Committee is charged with developing and recommending basic princi-
<br />ples and standards for guidance in the formulation of concepts and plans for staged regional develop-
<br />ment of water resources, including protection and furtherance of state and local interests. It will re-
<br />commend guidelines and procedures for the interstate exchange of basic data and information, and for
<br />the correlation of plans and schedules of water resource development. It will also evaluate and advise
<br />the Council on all physical and economic factors relevant to staged regional water development. These
<br />include, but are not limited to, water supplies, water requirements, water quality, conservation prac-
<br />tices, waste water reclamation, flood control, sediment control, navigation, hydropower, recreation,
<br />fish and wildlife.
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<br />Each of the;e committees has developed a charter which, in turn, has been approved by the
<br />Council.
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<br />The Council has approved Principles, Standards and Guidelines for the future operation of the
<br />Council.
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<br />It is interesting to reflect on some of the reasons for the formation of this rather unique organ-
<br />ization for water resources development in the West. Obviously, the states in the Lower Colorado Ba-
<br />sin - - that is, the States of California (at least Southern California), Arizona and Nevada - - are short of
<br />water and are seeking increased supplies. Among the Upper Colorado Basin States, New Mexico is a
<br />middleman and Utah is an importer, while Colorado and Wyoming, although limited by compacts as to
<br />the amount they can use, are producers and exporters of water. Among the Northwestern States,
<br />while some quarters tend toward aridity, there is no overall shortage of water and their interests emph-
<br />asize hydroelectric power and navigation to a greater extent that the Southwestern States. California,
<br />with substantial water resources available in the North, and a serious shortage of water resources in
<br />the South, is a unique state in many respects, with regard to water resources development in the West.
<br />First of all, she is the only state in our council with a large and significant water resources construc-
<br />tion program actively in progress, which is financed with state funds. Politically, she is by far more
<br />powerful than all the other ten Western States combined, having 38 congressmen to 27 for all the
<br />other 10 states. Her state budget for water resources - - about 360 million dollars this year - - is larger
<br />than some other western states' total general revenue. California has already done much to solve her
<br />problem of trans-basin diversions. While viewed with mixed feelings by the other 10 western states,
<br />California is obviously the most experienced, the most sophisticated, and the most active in the devel-
<br />opment of her water resources.
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<br />Fortunately, California is disposed to cooperate with the other western states and offers to
<br />share her accumulated experience, observations and knowledge, not only through the Western States
<br />Water Council, but also through any other means. Fortunately also, she has been and remains one of
<br />the strongest supporters of the Council.
<br />
<br />I am only half joking when I oversimplify by stating that five states joined the Council to try
<br />to get additional water; five states joined the Council to try to retain the water they presently have,
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