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-::> ~,) -., "'-1 l\:l W . . STATEMENT OF MR, CHARLES L, THOMSON CHAIRMAN ARKANSAS RIVER BASIN INTERSTATE COMMITTEE APRIL 2, 1985 Mr. Chairman, I am Charles L. Thomson from Pueblo, Colorado, Chairman and spokesman for the Arkansas River Basin Interstate Committee, It is indeed our pleasure and honor to appear before you and the distinguished members of your Committee today. The Arkansas River Basin Interstate Committee consists of five delegates each of the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Kansas and Colorado, were appointed to represent those respective states by their Governors. is their responsibility to coordinate water resource matters among the states, and to speak for the Arkansas River Basin in appearances before Committees of Congress and Regulatory Agencies, The Committee held its Annual Meeting in Tulsa, Oklahoma on March 7, and carefully reviewed policy and water project matters which had been previously considered by the individual states. from who It Mr, Chairman, I am accompanied here today by members of the Interstate Committee, and without taking the time to introduce them, I would appreciate the opportunity to have them stand as a group, attesting to their unified support for our presentation. These gentlemen devote countless hours working on water resource matters in the individual states, and work harmoniously to coordinate programs which will enhance the economic viability in the entire Arkansas River Basin, Our statement today will be divided into two parts, The first confined to policy matters, and the second to support continued construction of vital water resource management projects in the five Basin states, We feel it is absolutely essential, Mr. Chairman, to call these policy matters to the attention of this Committee, because we agree with members of the Congress and noted economists throughout the Nation who proclaim that the next major crisis which will face this country will be a water crisis, Many feel it will make the energy crisis of the 1970's appear simple by comparison. OPPOSITION TO THE CLOSING OF THE CONSTRUCTION AUTHORIZATION FOR McCLELLAN-KERR ARKANSAS RIVER NAVIGATION SYSTEM, The Interstate Committee is vigorously opposed to any effort or attempt to close the construction account for the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River Navigation System. There are a number of construction items that need to be accomplished before consideration or any attempt to close out the construction authority for the Arkansas River. Navigation on the Arkansas has been adversely affected during four (4) of the past five (5) years due to low water levels of the Mississippi River which 1