WSP08207

• File Number: 8410.350
• Description: Platte River Basin - Basin Multistate Organizations - Missouri Basin IAC
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Water Division: 1
• Date: 1/28/1958
• Author: Unknown
• Title: State Organizations and Activities in Water Resource Programs
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Report/Study

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given to water rights law, policy and administration, The development
of ground water regulation has lagged behind surface water law and the
policies and administrative problems involved are not identical.

The Unpact of these developments has led to a ree~amination of
the role of the states in the water resource field. As a first step,
most states, in the last five years, have authorized special studies of
state water policy and administrative organization. A number of valuable
reports analyzing problems and needs and making recommendations for ad-
ministrative and legislative measures have resulted from these studies.
Specific conditions and problems vary from state to state, and the recom-
mendations reflect this diversity. However, certain common approaches
have emerged, and some recurring recommendations stand out. In addition,
there have been a series of reports by federal commissions citing major
needs and recommending courses of action, frequently including reference
to state action.* From time to time in the following discussions, the
action taken in the states and the recommendations made by state and
federal commissions will be referred to.

At the December, 1954, meeting of the General Assembly of the
States in Chicago, the Council of State Governments was requested to
assist the states in surveying their water resource needs. In connec-
tion with an increased program in this area, a survey of e~isting state
water resource administration was conducted during 1956 and 1957. The
information obtained pertained to organizational features of water re-
source agencies, expenditures for resource programs, the number of per-
sonnel involved and other aspects of water resource administration. The
results of this study were published in a report in mid-1957. Recently,
to get more current expenditure and personnel data, a questionnaire was
sent to water resource agencies in the Missouri Basin States. Statistics
derived from this questionnaire and the earlier study are presented in
Appendix A at the end of this paper.

All these studies provide data and information which is valuable
in making judgments about a proble~ of paramount concern to all of us -.
the extent to which the states are prepared to assume new and increased
responsibilities for water resource programs. To consider this matter,
let us analyze briefly existing water resource organizations and programs
in the states and then examine some major areas in which additional state
action may be necessary or desirable.

Present State Organization and Programs

Major General Water Agencies and Programs

The major responsibilities for water resource administration in
the ten Missouri Basin States have been assigned to an independent board,
commission or department in five of the states (Iowa, Montana, Nebraska,
North Dakota and South Dakota); in Montana there is also an independent
state engineer. In four of the states (Colorado, Minnesota, Missouri and
Wyoming), a division (or divisions) of a larger natural resource agency

*These reports, as well as those of Missouri Basin States, are listed in
an appended Bibliography.