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9 LONG TITLE
10 General Description:
11 This concurrent resolution addresses Utah's use of its Colorado River compact
12 allocation.
13 Highlighted Provisions:
14 This resolution:
15 ▸ acknowledges Utah's status as signatory of certain Colorado River compacts and
16 other documents;
17 ▸ acknowledges the need for future use of Utah's Colorado River compact allocation;
18 ▸ acknowledges Utah's efforts related to Drought Contingency Plans and Colorado
19 River Interim Guidelines;
20 ▸ encourages the state to expeditiously develop and place to beneficial use, the water
21 apportioned to Utah under the Compacts, consistent with the Law of the River;
22 ▸ encourages the state and local water users to continue to explore and implement
23 practices that promote water efficiency; and
24 ▸ encourages the state to coordinate and cooperate with the specified federal agency
25 and the other Colorado River basin states to implement the Drought Control Plans
26 and to engage in the re-consultation on the Colorado River Interim Guidelines.
27 Special Clauses:
28 None
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30 Be it resolved by the Legislature of the state of Utah, the Governor concurring therein:
31 WHEREAS, as used in this resolution, "Compact" means the following compacts to
32 which Utah is a signatory, the Colorado River Compact of 1922 and the 1948 Upper Colorado
33 River Compact;
34 WHEREAS, Utah is a signatory to numerous documents in addition to the 1922 and the
35 1948 Compacts commonly referred to as the Law of the River;
36 WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Compacts, Utah is entitled to the beneficial
37 consumptive use, wherever in the state the need may arise, of 23% of the Upper Basin's
38 allocation under the 1922 Compact;
39 WHEREAS, to date, Utah has not fully developed and placed to beneficial consumptive
40 use its portion of the Compact allocation;
41 WHEREAS, the future development and use by Utah of the state's portion of the
42 Compact allocation will be necessary to meet the needs of an expanding economy and growing
43 population;
44 WHEREAS, Utah intends to use both its currently available and future water supplies
45 in an efficient and responsible manner;
46 WHEREAS, Utah is also aware of the need to account for, and adapt to, changing
47 climatic conditions, including the impact of such conditions on future water supply availability
48 within the Colorado River basin;
49 WHEREAS, Utah has worked cooperatively with the other Colorado River basin states
50 in the drafting and recent adoption of the Drought Contingency Plan agreements and associated
51 federal legislation;
52 WHEREAS, Utah intends to coordinate and cooperate with the other Colorado River
53 basin states and the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, in the implementation
54 of the Drought Contingency Plans; and
55 WHEREAS, Utah also intends to coordinate and cooperate with the Department of the
56 Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and the other Colorado River basin states in the
57 re-consultation on the Colorado River Interim Guidelines:
58 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of the state of Utah, the
59 Governor concurring therein, encourage:
60 (1) the state, through its agencies with water supply responsibilities, including the
61 Division of Water Resources and the Division of Water Rights, to expeditiously develop and
62 place to beneficial use wherever within the state the need may arise, the water apportioned to
63 Utah under the Compacts, consistent with the Law of the River;
64 (2) the state, through its agencies with water supply responsibilities, and local water
65 users, to continue to explore and implement practices that promote water efficiency and water
66 conservation; and
67 (3) the state, through its agencies with water supply responsibilities, to coordinate and
68 cooperate with the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and the other Colorado
69 River basin states in the timely implementation of the Drought Control Plans and the
70 completion of the re-consultation on the Colorado River Interim Guidelines, while ensuring
71 that the state's lawful interest in Colorado River waters is fully protected.