Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum
Created in 1973, the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Forum (Forum) is an organization of the seven Colorado River Basin states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. The purposes of the Forum are to coordinate salinity control efforts among the states, coordinate with federal agencies on the implementation of the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program (Program), work with Congress on the authorization and funding of the Program, act to disseminate information on salinity control and otherwise promote efforts to reduce the salt loading to the Colorado River.
The Governors of each state appoint up to three respresentatives (though each state has one vote). Current Forum membership is shown on the left. Generally, Forum membership is made up of individuals from state water quantity and water quality agencies as well as major water user agencies. Forum members elect a Chair and Vice Chair. There are no specific terms for Forum members as they serve at the pleasure of their respective Governors.
The Forum generally meets twice each year; usually a spring meeting in one of the Upper Basin states and a fall meeting in one of the Lower Basin states. Forum meetings are open to the public and notice of meetings can be found on the "Meetings" tab.
The Forum has created a Work Group made up of technical representatives from the states with a Chairman appointed by the Forum. The Work Group generally meets four or five times per year. Working under the direction of the Forum, the Work Group studies technical issues and opportunities, tracks and coordinates implementation of the Program and otherwise coordinates efforts between the states, federal agencies and local organizations and individuals involved in the Program.
The Forum has an office and an Executive Director.
Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council
The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Advisory Council (Advisory Council) was created by the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Act (Act) in 1974. As such, it is a federal advisory committee. Its charge is to provide recommendations to the Secretary of the Department of the Interior, the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency on the implementation of the Program. The Act provides that the Governors of each state can appoint up to three members to the Advisory Council. Generally, in the past the Governors have appointed the same individuals to serve on both the Forum and the Advisory Council. Because of this common membership, the Forum and the Advisory Council meetings are generally held in conjunction with each other. The Advisory Council has created a Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to research issues and provide recommendations to the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council is staffed by the Bureau of Reclamation under the direction of the Designated Federal Officer.
