This part describes the organization established by the Water Resources Council in discharging its duties and responsibilities. The organization is designed to assure that Council Members will meet at least quarterly and consider and decide major matters before the Council. It provides that the Director can take action when necessary and appropriate; provided, that in the preparation of agenda items for the Council meetings, the Director shall consult with the Interagency Liaison Committee. It also provides that the Council Members shall be continuously advised of the significant actions of the Council staff. Council Members expect to participate personally in the work of the Council.

The Water Resources Council was established by the Water Resources Planning Act of 1965 (Pub. L. 89-80, 79 Stat. 244, as amended (42 U.S.C. 1962-1962d-5)). The rules and regulations of this part are promulgated by authority of section 402 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1962d-1).

It is the purpose of the Water Resources Council to effectuate the policy of the United States in the Water Resources Planning Act (hereinafter the Act) to encourage the conservation, development, and utilization of water and related land resources of the United States on a comprehensive and coordinated basis by the Federal Government, States, localities, and private enterprise with the cooperation of all affected Federal agencies, States, local governments, individuals, corporations, business enterprises, and others concerned, within the limitations set forth in section 3 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1962-1).

The functions of the Water Resources Council are:

(a) To maintain a continuing study and prepare periodically an assessment of the adequacy of supplies of water necessary to meet the water requirements in each water resource region in the United States and of the national interest therein.

(b) To maintain a continuing study of the relation of regional or river basin plans and programs to the requirements of larger regions of the Nation.

(c) To appraise the adequacy of administrative and statutory means for coordination and implementation of the water and related land resources policies and programs of the several Federal agencies and to make recommendations to the President with respect to Federal policies and programs.

(d) To establish, after consultation with appropriate interested Federal and non-Federal entities, and with approval of the President, principles, standards, and procedures for Federal participation in the preparation of comprehensive regional or river basin plans and for the formulation and evaluation of Federal water and related land resources projects, including primary direct navigation benefits as defined by section 7a, Pub. L. 89-670.

(e) To coordinate schedules, budgets, and programs of Federal agencies in comprehensive interagency regional or river basin planning.

(f) To carry out its responsibilities under Title II of the Act with regard to the creation, operation, and termination of Federal-State river basin commissions.

(g) To receive plans or revisions thereof submitted by river basin commissions in accordance with section 204(3) of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1962b(3)), and to review and transmit them, together with its recommendations, to the President in accordance with section 104 of the Act (42 U.S.C. 1962a-3).

(h) To assist the States financially in developing and participating in the development of comprehensive water and related land resources plans in accordance with Title III of the Act.

(i) To perform such other functions as the Council may be authorized by law, executive orders, regulations, or other appropriate instructions to perform.

(j) To take such actions as are necessary and proper to implement the Act and to carry out the functions enumerated herein.

(a) The Office of the Water Resources Council is composed of the Water Resources Council, the Chairman of the Water Resources Council, the Water Resources Council Staff headed by a Director, and Field Organizations within its jurisdiction.

(b) The Water Resources Council consists of the following Members: The Secretary of Agriculture; the Secretary of the Army; the Secretary of Commerce; the Secretary of Energy; the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; the Secretary of the Interior; the Secretary of Transportation; and the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.

(c) The Chairman of the Council is designated by the President.

(d) The Water Resources Council staff is employed, assigned duties and responsibilities, and supervised by the Director.

(e) The Council Members shall establish an Interagency Liaison Committee. Task forces may be established and assigned duties by the Director with the concurrence of the Members, and/or action of the Council. Any Council Member may provide each task force with whatever representation he or she deems necessary.

(f) Field organizations are established by or operate under the Council and include field committees formerly under the Inter-Agency Committee on Water Resources and the offices of the Chairmen of Federal-State River Basin Commissions established under Title II of the Act.

The Headquarters is located in the Washington, DC area.