The deadline for public comment on the Carter administration's proposed water policy program has been extended 90 days from the original Aug. 20th cut-off date. The extension was requested by the Western Coalition, a group of 30 senators representing 15 western states, including Arizona. Coalition members felt that the first deadline did not allow time for adequate, thoughtful public comment on or thorough analysis of the proposed federal water policy program.

"The Nation's Water Outlook to the Year 2000" was published recently by the Library of Congress Congressional Research Service. Forecasts may include a general nationwide projection and regional projections.

A water-harvesting agrisystem to rehabilitate abandoned farmlands in the arid Southwest has been developed by the University of Arizona Office of Arid Lands Studies (OALS) and the Water Resources Research Center (WRRC).

"Senate Bill 1391 of the 1977 Legislative session charges the Groundwater Management Study Commission to 'Make findings and recommendations and prepare legislation to provide for the best development, utilization and conservation of groundwater in the State.' To aid in this mission the Study Commission requested that the Arizona Water Commission undertake a '. . . study of the impacts of future growth on groundwater resources in the major basins of the State, assuming official projections of the Department of Economic Security of population and economic growth and no change in existing law and institutions as they relate to water and its use."

President Carter signed into law the Water Research and Development Act (P.L. 95-467) on October 17, 1978. The Act repeals the Water Resources Research Act of 1964 (P .L. 88-379) and the Saline Water Conversion Act of 1971 (P.L. 92-60), and amends the Water Research and Conversion Act of 1977 (P.L. 95-84).

Arizona ranks in the top 10 among the 50 states in terms of total amount of groundwater pumped and amount of groundwater pumped per square mile of land surface, according to recently compiled U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) data.

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Water Resources Division has begun a comprehensive study of groundwater basins in southern Arizona, in parts of adjacent states and in Mexico.

Steam produced by the Earth's internal heat has been used to drive generators and produce electricity since the early years of the 20th century. Consequently there has been a tendency for people to believe that generating electricity is the only application of geothermal resources. Spurred by the ever-increasing costs of petroleum, renewed efforts have been launched to bring geothermal and other energy resources into greater use.

The Bureau of Reclamation has changed its name to the WATER AND POWER RESOURCES SERVICE, to reflect changes in emphasis that have been made in the function of the agency.

On June 19, Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt delivered a copy of Arizona's new Groundwater Management Act to Secretary of the Interior Cecil Andrus in Washington. D.C. Andrus indicated that passage of this Act would have a direct bearing on his preliminary allocations of Central Arizona Project (CAP) water. President Carter recommended that "further funding of the project be contingent upon further study of groundwater supplies and institution of groundwater regulation and management by the State of Arizona."