WSP08290

• File Number: 8449.916
• Description: South Platte Projects
• State: CO
• Basin: South Platte
• Date: 8/1/1997
• Author: McLaughlin Water Eng
• Title: Platte River Basin Study
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

Platte River Basin Study

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objectives in the past because of reluctance by the states and federal
agencies to provide sufficient authority to the river basin commissions
to accomplish their missions. That reluctance still exists and,
consequently, establishment of a river basin commission for the Platte
River would probably not be successful today. The Governance
Committee established under the Cooperative Agreement with its
specifically defined objectives appears to be an appropriate vehicle for
developing and administering a recovery program for the Platte River
basin.

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7. In a similar manner, no recommendation is made to revive the
U.S. Water Resources Council for purposes of promoting coordination
in water resources planning and development among the states and
federal agencies. The principal reason for the demise of the Water
Resources Council was the general reluctance of the states and
federal agencies to provide a single entity, such as the Water
Resources Council, with sufficient authority and responsibility to
meet its objectives. After reviewing the current water resources
planning, management, and development situation in the Platte River
Basin and elsewhere, it appears there is little indication of support
from either the states or the federal agencies for a successor to the
Water Resources Council, with sufficient authority to meet its goals
and objectives.

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8. The absence offormally established entities that are charged with
resolving interstate, interagency, and interjurisdictional disputes over
the management and development of water resources, places
increased responsibility on the states and federal agencies to exert the
necessary leadership to resolve these disputes. Leadership, such as
was recently displayed by the Secretary of the Interior and the
governors ofthe three states in developing the MONCooperative
Agreement process for establishing a recovery program for the Platte
River basin endangered species, will be necessary to resolve existing
and future water conflicts.

9. Platte River basin stakeholders, including states, federal agencies,
environmental groups and water users, should realize the inefficiency,
or inability, oflitigation and adversary procedures (e.g., the FERC
Kingsley Darn relicensing process) to successfully resolve interstate or
basin-wide conflicts, such as providing necessary flows for endangered
species habitat in the Platte River basin. Recognition of the inability
of litigation to resolve these conflicts should promote more positive

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