WSP08199

• File Number: 8112.600
• Description: Arkansas White Red Basins Interagency Committee - AWRBIAC -- Reports
• Basin: Arkansas
• Water Division: 2
• Date: 6/1/1977
• Title: Specific Problem Analysis Summary Report - 1975 National Assessment of Water and Related Land Resources - Part 1 of 2
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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irrigation duringdrouth periods. Drought periods are often
forgotten when natural precipitation is adequate, but when they
occur they even jolt the complacent back to realities. When
groundwater mining has depleted water stored in aquifers, the
change from irrigated to dry cropland use will cause great hard-
ship to individual farmers. These hardships will pass on to the
business man and everyone else who depends on the farmer's success.
Thus, it is concluded that this is the main problem of the AWR
Region.

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The importance of this problem has been recognized for years
by the affected States. It was formally recognized by the Congress
in passage of Public Law 94-587, approved October 22, 1976, which
reads as follows:

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PUBLIC LAW 94-587--0ct. 22, 1976

90 STAT. 2943

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SEC. 193. In order to assure an adequate supply of food to the
Nation and to promote the economic vitality of the High Plains Region,
the Secretary of Commerce (hereinafter referred to in this section as
the ~Secretary"), acting through the Economic Development Administration,
in cooperation with the Secretary of the Army, scting through the Chief
of Engineers, and appropriate Federal, State, and local agencies, and
the private sector, is authorized and directed to study the depletion
of the natural resources of those regions of the States of Colorado,
Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska presently utilizing
the declining water resources of the Ogallala acquifer, and to develop
plans to increase water supplies in the ares and report thereon to
Congress, together with any recommendations for further congressional
action. In formulating these plans, the Secretary is directed to
consider all ppst and ongoing studies, plans, and work on depleted water
resources in the region, and to examine the feasibility of various
alternatives to provide adequate water supplies in the area including,
but not limited to, the transfer of water from adjacent areas, such
portion to be conducted by the Chief of Engineers to assure the continued
economic growth and vitality of the region. The Secretary shall report
on the costs of reasonably svailable options, the benefits of various
options, and the costs of inaction. If water transfer is found to be
a part of the reasonable solution, the Secretary, as part of his study,
shall include a recommended plan for allocating and distributing water
in an equitable fashion, taking into account existing water rights and
the needs for future growth of all affected areas. An interim report,
with recommendations, shall be transmitted to the Congress no later
than October 1, 1978, and a final report, with recommendations, shall
be transmitted to Congress not later than July 1, 1980. A sum of
$6,000,000 is authorized to be appropriated for the purposes of carrying
out this section.

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