The General Contractor with the States will be assessing alternative development strategies for the High Plains. First is the baseline alternative. This is the decision t o continue current policies and present trends with no new Federal or State programs. Basically this is the “no action” option. Next is a series of positive alternative actions in an increasing order of costs. These include:

1. Encourage users t o practice conservation through application of proven technology; provide incentives for the farmer to conserve.

2. Apply advanced water and agricultural management technology on a broad scale, identify- ing any necessary constraints, i.e., regulations.

techniques such as artificial recharge, weather modification, land management, snow pack management, vegetation management, desalting, evaporation management, and others.

transfers of surface water, as available.

interbasin transfers of water, possibly providing for expansion of irrigated acreages.

region for purposes other than agricultural production.

3. Augment water supplies at local level with

4. Augment local water supplies with interbasin

5 . Augment local water supplies with major

6. Develop and use available resources of the

The final report from the Contractor is scheduled for March 1982. It will evaluate the effects of “no action” policies, determine the costs of each alternative strategy, and also determine legal, institutional and organizational changes necessary to implement each of the positive alternative strategies. The report will be submitted to the High Plains Council who will make final recommendations and present the final study to EDA and Congress in July 1982.

I t is noteworthy that this study represents a first in many ways. I t is the first time the Federal Government has become involved in ground-water development and management. I t is the largest project ever undertaken by the Department of Commerce. The study is the first research project that will make available alternatives for coping with a problem before the crisis stage, before “the wells go dry.” It’s the first time there ever has been a contractual arrangement consisting of EDA - Study Council - General Contractor. The project is unique in that the Federal Govern- ment, working with a number of States, is taking

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a regional look at water resources problems and economic impacts.

CONCLUSIONS Laws and management affecting water use in

the High Plains differ significantly among the States. In some States the landowners have the property to the water underlying their land; in other States water is a part of the public domain. However, in spite of these different laws and management programs, attempts are being made to sustain the economic life of the available ground- water resources. In the past these attempts were made on a local or State level. However, as the effects of ground-water problems become regional, the States are making a united effort to maximize the use of ground water from aquifers such as the Ogallala. The EDA study is an indication that in the future we will see more regional ground- water management planning and greater integration of surface and ground water in solving the High Plains water problems.

REFERENCES Colorado Revised Statutes. 1973. Title 37, Article 90

(Underground Water), Published by Bradford-Robinson Printing Company, Denver, Colorado 1974.

(The) Ground Water Newsletter. 1978. New data reveals widespread importance of ground water. December 3 1, 1978, v. 7, no. 24. Published by Water Information Center, Inc., Geraghty & Miller, Inc.

Interim report six-state High Plains Ogallala aquifer area study. 1979. High Plains Associates, Austin, Texas.

Oklahoma Statutes, 1979 Supplement. Title 82, Section 1020 (Oklahoma Ground Water Law). Published by West Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota 1979.

Personal communication by author with Dr. Bruce DeBrine, Deputy State Engineer for Ground Water, Colorado Division of Water Resources, Denver, Colorado.

Oklahoma, six-state High Plains Ogallala aquifer study. 1979. Oklahoma Water Resources Board, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Rules of High Plains Underground Water Conservation District No. 1. 1974. Lubbock, Texas.

Texas water facts. 1979. Texas Department of Water Resources, Austin, Texas.

Vernon’s Texas Codes Annotated. Water Code, Sections 52.002 (Ownership of Underground Water) and 52.021 (Creation of District). Published by West Publishing Company, St. Paul, Minnesota 1972.

Plan of study, state research elements, State of

* * * * Ginia Wickersham is a ground-water geologist and

Chief of the Planning Division of the Oklahoma Water Resources Board. She has over eight years of geological experience in the ground-water, petroleum and mining fields. She is a Certified Professional Geologist. Ms. Wickersham is project director of the High Plains Study in Oklahoma and technical coordinator with the surrounding States and EDA on the project.