Technical Advice and Oversight

The Congress can make informational resources available to aid in the creation and operation of successful water-management initiatives. For example, the water markets which presently exist in the western states lack federal oversight. This situation has prevented some stakeholders from participating fully in the decision-making process that approves water right transfers. Federal officials can aid in the approval process by taking into account the larger societal effects of water transfers that are beyond the jurisdiction of state officials. Additionally, technical resources can be made available to create a clearinghouse of information for potential water-right or effluent-quota transfers, helping to maximize market efficiency.