OCR Text |
Show of the National Resources Planning Board. Investigations by the Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Army Engineers in the Republican River basin had proceeded to the point where the general pattern of development was understood* Prospective negotiations between Colorado and Wyoming for a compact on the Little Snake River are awaiting further investigations by the Bureau of Reclamation. The intricate relationship of water uses in the Missouri River basin involving reclamation of arid lands, flood control, navigation, generation of electric energy, sanitation, preservation of re- creational values and domestic water supplies offers an outstanding example of the necessity of completing the investigations now under way by the Corps of Army Engineers and Bureau of Reclamation before a. compact is at- tempted. It is evident, too, that these investigations must be fully inte- grated. The results of studies of other federal agencies within the basin should be considered in the final plan. Aside from this physical phase, an exploration of applicable policies, an understanding of respective state claims, and an opportunity to put forth the views of local and state inter- ests during the investigational period should be assured. To accomplish this purpose, the Missouri Basin States Committee was recently organized. Too little attention was given to this preparatory, investigational phase before some of the early day compacts, were made. This is evidenced by the fact that the compact terms do not in every case comport with the integrated operation of facilities which later studies have shown to be ne- cessary for the most efficient use of water supplies in the interest of the signatory states. Adequate administration provisions should be contained in a water coxa- pact. It should be couched in such terms as will allow sufficient flexi- bility to meet changing conditions. Attention should be given to provisions which will permit adjustments within the framework of compact making and procedure* Changes in specific provisions may always be accomplished by un- animous consent of the signatory states with the consent of Congress, but usually compliance with such procedure is difficult. Recently, it has been recognized that more emphasis must be placed on. the effort to correlate the federal and state interests in, and jurisdic- tion over, interstate voters. Otherwise an adjustment among states may conflict with well recognized federal jurisdiction or the compact terms rendered ineffective because of the later imposition of such federal juris- diction. Since in the West future water development projects probably vdLl be federally financed, a compact should be so framed as to impose the terms thereof on federal agencies; and the compact provisions should insure recog- nition by the federal government of all applicable state laws. The Govern.- merit is not a party to an interstate compact. Therefore, to accomplish these objectives appropriate legislative methods must be invoked. A new approach to accomplish this purpose was made in the Republican River Compact recently approved by Congress. This compact specified that it shall become effective only if Congress in granting its consent to the compact, enacts provisions requiring the United States and its agencies to comply with the following* -63- |