Survey of Columbia River Basin Water Law Institutions and Policies. The NorthwestWater Law and Policy Project. Report to the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission

摘要

This study provides an overview of the 'Law of the River' of the Columbia Basin.It outlines the legal authority, role, and activities of the federal, regional, and state agencies that regulate the region's water resources, and clarifies existing authority and responsibilities. The study includes the following federal agencies: the Corp of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Forest Service, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, the National Marine Fisheries Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Northwest Planning Council. The state agencies that manage water allocation, water quality, submerged lands, and the fisheries resources are examined within the state chapters. The study also contains a critique of the institutionl structure in the Columbia River Basin. This critique and evaluation of the existing structure focuses on the myriad entities and governing statutes previously identified; it highlights overlapping authority, conflicitng mandates, lack of coordination, and other jurisdictional issues.