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Title 43, Public LandsRelease 119-102

§1511 Reconnaissance Investigations by Secretary of the Interior; Reports; 10-year Moratorium on Water Importation Studies

Title 43 › CHAPTER 32 — COLORADO RIVER BASIN PROJECT › SUBCHAPTER II — INVESTIGATIONS AND PLANNING › § 1511

Last updated Aug 21, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Interior must carry out thorough surveys to make a general plan for meeting future water needs in the Western United States. The work must look at long‑term water supplies and long‑term water needs in each western water region. Progress reports must go to the President, the National Water Commission (if it still exists), the Water Resources Council, and to Congress every two years. The first report was due on or before June 30, 1971, and the final report was due by June 30, 1977. For ten years from November 2, 1978, no federal official may start surveys of any plan to bring water into the Colorado River Basin from any other natural river basin outside Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and the parts of Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming that drain into the Colorado River.

Full Legal Text

Title 43, §1511

Public Lands, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

Pursuant to the authority set out in the Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, and Acts amendatory thereof or supplementary thereto, and the provisions of the Water Resources Planning Act of July 22, 1965, 79 Stat. 244, as amended [42 U.S.C. 1962 et seq.], with respect to the coordination of studies, investigations and assessments, the Secretary of the Interior shall conduct full and complete reconnaissance investigations for the purpose of developing a general plan to meet the future water needs of the Western United States. Such investigations shall include the long-range water supply available and the long-range water requirements in each water resource region of the Western United States. Progress reports in connection with these investigations shall be submitted to the President, the National Water Commission (while it is in existence), the Water Resources Council, and to the Congress every two years. The first of such reports shall be submitted on or before June 30, 1971, and a final reconnaissance report shall be submitted not later than June 30, 1977: Provided, That for a period of ten years from November 2, 1978, any Federal official shall not undertake reconnaissance studies of any plan for the importation of water into the Colorado River Basin from any other natural river drainage basin lying outside the States of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, and those portions of Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming which are in the natural drainage basin of the Colorado River.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

References in Text

The Reclamation Act of June 17, 1902, 32 Stat. 388, referred to in text, is classified generally to chapter 12 (§ 371 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 371 of this title and Tables. The Water Resources Planning Act, referred to in text, is Pub. L. 89–80, July 22, 1965, 79 Stat. 244, as amended, which is classified generally to chapter 19B (§ 1962 et seq.) of Title 42, The Public Health and Welfare. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see

Short Title

note set out under section 1962 of Title 42 and Tables.

Amendments

1980—Pub. L. 96–375 substituted “any Federal official” for “the Secretary” in proviso. 1978—Pub. L. 95–578 substituted “
November 2, 1978” for “
September 30, 1968”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Termination of National Water CommissionNational Water Commission, established by Pub. L. 90–515, Sept. 26, 1968, 82 Stat. 868, terminated Sept. 26, 1973.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

43 U.S.C. § 1511

Title 43, Public Lands

Last Updated

Aug 21, 2026

Release point: 119-102