Over the last few years several potential conflicts have emerged over the manner in which water is put to beneficial use in the western United States. These potential problems have been further heightened by the western drought of 1976-77 and by the recent upsurge of interest in developing western coal and oil-shale resources. The conference on Western Water Issues, held at the California Institute of Technology, 17-18 May 1979, provided a forum for representatives of industry, agriculture, government, environmental groups, research establishments and universities to exchange ideas on the subject.
Most of the discussions centered on California and the Colorado River Basin. Specific items discussed included climatic fluctuations and predictability of the basic water supply; existing water law and needed changes; economics of water and the lack of real water markets; pending California state legislation (on the Peripheral Canal in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta area, and on limits to pumping overdrafted ground water basins); water availability for energy resources development; and competing needs by municipalities, industry, and agriculture. As a summary of the conference, this report should be regarded as a source book to clarify the issues and direct the reader to relevant individuals and references
