15, 16, 17, 1944

RESOLUTIONS

ADOPTED

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Denver, Colorado

NOe 1

RES 0 L UTI 0 N

V[HEREAS~ The National Recla~ation Association and all water users in the Western States are vitally interested in the maximum developme!lt and use of w'estern water rcsourC3S; and

~1i~REAS, Frequent water sho~tages have been and are now experienned throughout the irrigated lands of the Western States, and will gro'N in severity with future expansio:':l of irrigv.tion agriculture; and

VfHEREAS~ Of all the water y~6lded by the great rivers rising in .the Rocky MOll.l1tains ~ oV'Jr half flows from the Natio::lal Forests which are

managed by the Fo~est Servi0e of tho Depar~~8nt of Agriculture; and WHSI{EAS, CurrE:nt studies' Gho'w that tho yield of usable water from high-altitude forest~'covered watersheds me.y be subste.n-cially augmented by carr_{3fuJ.ly mana.ged timber cutting, and}

WHEHEASD Large area.s of depleted watershed present serious problems of soil erosion and siltation~ to which a solution can be obtained only by an intensive program of research and remedial actiol1; and

vm~R8AS, Up to now these useful investigations have not been suffi-ciently extensive to pe~mit general recorr~e~dations for the proper manage-ment of such watersheds,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the officers of the National Rec,lamation Association are authorized and requested to promote the early expansion of investigations by the Forest Service into the management of National F'orest watersheds for maximum yields of usable water, including research on timber and range management and forest utilization; to give their full support to this program of watershed research; to take all necessary steps to advise members of Congress of the importance of these

h'lvp,stilT,ati.ons; B.nd to urge e.dequate appropr ia. ti ons for their full deve lopment •

NO. 2

RESOLUTION

\~mREAS, The reclamation of the arid lands is assuming an increas-ingly vi tal role in the post-war :program, through the creation of home.s for returning veterans and the increase in food production to relieve any post-war shortage; and

VlHEREAS, The ultimate success of the Bureau of Reclamation's plans for further reclamation depends largely upon the fullest utilization of the nation's water resources~ which in turn requires complete informa-tion regarding such water resources; and

WHEREAS, In order '~o enable the Geological Survey to collect and compile adequate information pertaining to the quantity and quality Of the surface and underground waters required in the planning of the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Reclamation Association has in the past and desires in the future to assist and support the Bureau of Reclamation and the Geological Survey in every way possible in these water investigation programs; and

~1HEHEAS, The continuance and extension of the stream-gaging program is essential to planning the development and administration of irrigation enterprises for the division of the waters of interstate streams between states, by compact or othe~Jise; for assuring better understanding bet~en

water users; and for promoting a more complete and e ffecti ve use and con-trol of water;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That t he secretary-manager, officers and directors of the Nat1o~a1 Reclamation Association are authorized and requested to encourage and promote the water investigation program of the Bureau of Reclamation and the Geological Survey, including the instal-lation and maintenance of stream-gaging facilities to the end that f unda be provided to meet the increasing needs of the Bureau of Reclamation's expanding investigations, further to take all steps necessary properly to advise members of Congress of the importance of projects now in course of development, and to urge adequate appropriations to carry these programs into effect.

NO.3

RES 0 L UTI

a

WHEREAS, The National Reclamation Association has, by resolutions adopted at its conventions in 1939 and in 1943, expressed its attitude

on public land policiesg

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED; That the Association reiterates its views heretofore expressed and recommends the establishment without fur-ther delay of a public land policy, which will ,give proper consideration to the rights and privileges of the stateso

NOo 4

RES 0 L U IE ION

t!BEREAS, Until about 1939 the Bureau of Reclamation had charge of matters relating to the generation and sale of electric power from

facilities constructed by the Bureau of Reclamation, primarily for irrigation purposes, and

tHEREAS, .lvlany of said matters, including the disposition of such power, bave now been -placed in the Division of Power of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior~ acting independently of the Bureau of

Reclamation, and

l'lHEREAS, Such change has interfered \Jl th the Bureau in the formu-la tion of pformu-lans, intensified interdepartmental c onflic ts, deformu-layed the construction of projects, divided responsibility, increased the cost of reclaiming land, and has been detrimental to the best interests of reclarna tion,

NOW nIEREFOP~ BE IT hE30LVED, That in view of these conditions, it is the belief of the National Reclarra. tion Association that the functions of the Bureau, heretofore transferred to the Division of Power of the Office of the Secretary of the Interior, should be restored to the Bureau of Reclamation, and the officers of this Association are directed to take all proper steps to b ring about such restoration.

NO.5

RES 0 L UTI 0 N

V~S, Under Acts of Congress designed to afford relief to finan-cially overburdened lands devoted principally to agricultural uses, certain agencies of the United States Government have acquired and now own the interest-bearing bonds of many drainage, levee, and irrigation districts; and

V~S, At this time and from time to time certain of such districts are and·will be able to refinance their indebtedness at a lower rate of interest through the issuance and sale of their refunding bonds if the Government-owned bonds are mde available vIi thout premium to the districts for such purposes; and

V~EAS, It is the conviction of this association that either under the terms or the spirit of the relief acts authorizing the acquisition of the bonds such districts have such right of reciemption or should' be accorded such privilege;

NOH THEREFORE BE IT RES0LV"'.d), That when any drainage, levee, or irrigation district whose interest-bearing bonds are held by any agency of the United States Goverl]ment, is in position to refinance its indebted-ness at a lo~er rate of L~terest through the issuance of its refunding bonds, it is the opinion and re~ommendation of this association that such Government agency should, upon such showing, release such bonds at a price not exceeding par and accrued interest.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That if such right is not recognized and accorded by any such Government agency, the Congress of the United States should enact, immediately, appropriate legislation assuring and implement-ing such right of redemption;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the members of Congress be and they are hereby requested to cooperate vrith such districts to the end that such right or privilege be either recognized or obtained for the affected districts.

NOo 6

RES 0 L UTI 0 N

VflillREAS, The provisions of the reclamation law were enacted to apply to oonditions on projects involving material areas of public lands and to afford a water supply to undeveloped arid areas, and

W1lliREA~$ There is little publio land in present projects under con-templation or construction by the Bureau of Reolamation and the larger part of the areas to be served consists of lands in private ownership for whioh only a supplemental water supply will be furnished;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT TIE50L1lliD, That the National Reclamation Associa-tion urges the removal of the excess land provisions of the reclamaAssocia-tion

law for lands in projects of the Bureau of Reclamation already having partial water sl.lpplies J whether from surface or underground sources j

and

BE IT FURTHER RE50LVED, That the National Reclamation Association urges the accomplishment of the above purpose by means of general

legis-lation in order that the need for a large number of special exemption acts for individual projects supplying supplemental water may be avoided; and

BE IT FURTlffiR RESOLVED, That the National Reclamation Association urges the immediate enaotment of the so-called Elliott Amendment to H. R. 3961 exempting the Central Valley Project from the excess land provisions of the reclamation act as well as legislation so affecting other like projects in order that this project may secure the relief it requires without being delayed until general legislation may be enacted.

NO. ?

RESOLUTION

WBEREAS, President Franklin Do Roosevelt in his letters to Senator John H. Overton, Chairman of the Senate Commerce Committee, and Representa-tive Joseph J. Mansfield, Chairman of the House Rivers and Harbors Comndt-tee, has proclaimed sound national policy in stressing the prior rights of irrigation and other beneficial consumptive uses to the waters of t he arid and seIlliarid regions of the I? 'r'lestern States on the principle embodie d in the OtMahoney-Millikin amendment! and

WHEREAS, Secretary of the Interior Harold t01 Ickes has staunchly supported the President's position on the O'Mahoney-Millikin amendment and has advocated before Ei3nate Committees that the differences between plans of the Bureau C!lf Reclamation, of his own Department, and the Corps of Engineers, of the War Department, for the N..issouri River Basin, be removed by joint action of t he two agencies which has resulted in a reconciliation of the two reports on t he Missouri River, in keeping Wi th the President's views for coordinated plans for river basin development to protect the use of water for irrigation and other beneficial consump-ti ve purposes, and

WBEREAS, The Water Conference at Chicago on September ? and 8, com-posed of representatives of 29 states endorsed the O'Mahoney-Millikin amendment as a means of assuring to the individual States a voice in the control of their \Waters for beneficial consumptive use and members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives, from the West as well as other States with water problems, have taken the leadership in supporting this prinCiple,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the National Reclamation ASSOci'" ation commends the statesmanship of the'Fresident and the Secretary of the Interior, the forward-looking view of the Chicago Water Conference, and that of t he members of Congress who have taken the leadership for a solu-tion of this vital problem, and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the National Reclamation Association wholeheartedly endorses the action of the Chicago Water Conference and urges the adoption of the O'Mahoney-Millikin anendxoonts with any further changes consistent with their prinCiples,

NOo 8

RES 0 L UTI 0 N

WHEREAS, It is generally recognized that irrige.tors I power interests,

Federal, State, and municipal governments and other interests directly and indirectly receive benefits from irrigation and reclarrmtion projects, and

WHEREP.S, Many irrigat iO:1 and rec lam at ion pro jects are impos sible of approval or accoraplishment if irrigators are called upon to repay the entire cost of such projects, and

WHEREAS: It is fair and equi table that all interests directly or indirectly benefited by irrigation or reclamation pr~jects bear their just portion of the cost of such projects according and in proportion to the benefits derived by them and in accordance with their ability to pay measured by the benefits derived by such i::.1terests, and

WHEREAS, Some projects may be found to be more practical if the liability of water users be under an individual contract as distinguished from jo int liab iIi ty contract and on a revenue hond basis,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLV.t:D, That the National Reclamation Associa-tion recommend to the Federal Govern.'1lentg the Department of the Interior, and to the United States Bureau of Reclarr.e,tion that an exhaustive study be made of proposed projects to the end that all interests directly or indirectly materially benefited by irrigation or reclamation projects be called upon to bear their just ~roportion of the costs of such projects

in proportion to the benefits derived from such projects and to the end that the irrigator be called upon to pay only his just proportion of the costs of such projects measured by the benefits derived by him and his ability to pay,

BE IT FUR'l'HER HESOLVED, The Association recommend that the present statutory law governing the repaj~ent of that part of the construction cost of a project or a division of a project allocated to irrigation be amended to provide that, in the alternative, a contract for repay-ment may be either a general obligation contract with a water users·

organization satisfacto17 to the Secretary of the Interior, or a con-tract with such organization or other Government agency based upon its revenues without joint liability of the water users.

NO.9

RESOLUTIOl~

WHEREAS, The Reclamation law and -acts amendatory thereof and supple-mentary thereto provide for the delivery of operation and maintenance of

federally-constructed projects or divisions thereof to the properly organized bodies of ~~ter users in such projects or divisions when cer-tain condi tions prescri bed by that law have been complied with; and

WHEREAS, Such delivery of operation and maintenance is in the interest of the water users and the reclarra tion program in general; and

WHEREAS, It has been called to the attention of the National Recla-!n..ation Association that there are instances wherein the Bureau of Recla-mation has failed to deliver operation and maintenance to a district for many years after it had complied with all legal conditions and had

repeatedly made formal request for a delivery contract; and

WHEREAS, This Association, by Eesolution No. 14, adopted at Denver, Colorado, on October 29, 1943, declared that, in view of the above

premises, it was the opinion of the Association that operation and

maintenance of all projects and divisions thereof, constructed under the above laws and being operated by the Bureau of heclamation, should be

given over to the properly organized bodies of water users at the earliest possible date after they have complied with all legal condi-tions; and

WHEREAS, It has not been observed by the Association that any change of policy has been made by the Bureau since the adoption of said Resolution No. 14,

NOVI THEREFORE BE IT I<.ESOLVED, That the National ReclaIIBtion Associa-tion does hereby reaffinn the principle declared in said ResoluAssocia-tion Noo 14 and does hereby respectfully request that the Bureau of Reclamation correct its policy and initiate action to conform to that principle,

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, Tha.t the Secretary transmit certified copy of this resolution to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation with the request for a statement of the views of the Bureau.

NOo 10

RESOLUT ION

BE IT RESOLVED~ That the Nation8.l Reclamation Association commends Commissioner of Iteclarnation Harry

W.

ReybQld, Chief of Engineers, for their leadership in bringing about the

reconciliation of the differences in the two reports for the conservation and use of the waters of the Missouri River Basin and for the presenta-tion of a coordinated plan for the development of the stream and its tri butaries with full protection for the interests of irrigat ion and other beneficial consumptive uses of their waters as set forth in their joint letter of October 25 to the Secretary of' Wilr and the Secret.9.ry of the Interior, and

BE IT FURTH"";R HESOLV:DD, T'hat the National Heclamation Association recommends that the pending Flood Gontrol or Rivers and Harbors bills be amended to incorpora te the a uthorizations for construction by the But"eau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engi.neers of the projects as set forth in the joint reconunendat ions of Commis s ioner Bashore and General Reybold, and

BE IT FUkT1iliR I{ESOL-JEDs That the Nationa.l Reclamation .Association

urges that the Bureau of Reclamation and Corps of Engineers proceed promptly to reconcile any conflicting reports on all other western river basins to the end that coordinated plans for the development and use ~f vital water resources may be presented to Congress in connection with post-war programs for employment and settlement opportunities on irri-gated land in the West for returning service men and demobilized civilian war workers.

NO. 11 RES 0 L UTI 0 N

1VHEREAS, There are many small communities in little valleys and along small streams and tr~butaries throughout the West; and

WHEREAS, These communities, in most instances, have small diversion works and irrigation systenls for diverting irrigation water during the early spring months but because of a lack of storage faoilities do not have an adequate supply of irrigation water during the summer months? ~esulting in heavy finanoial loso and in many instances making it almost impossible for the people living in these communities to eke

out even a bare existenoe, and

WHEREAS, If storage reser'Voirs were conotructed and in some oases improvements were made in the irrigation distribution systems, it would result not only in putting these small communities representing many thousands of splendid .AmeriQan farm families on a sound financial basis, but in numerous instances it would result in bringing into cultivation larger areas of new lands thereby creating new homes and new wea.lth,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the National Reolamation Associ~tion do hereby endorse a maximum use of the Water Faoilities Aot, the Wheeler-Case Act, and the Reolamation Aot of

1939,

NO. 12

R E S 0 L UTI 0 N

VJHEREAS, The primary purpose of the Bureau of Reclamation should be the construction of projects for the irrigation of lands in the west and cooperation in flood-control projects affording irrigation benefits, and

l"!HEREAS, The incidental generation of pOller under favorable cost conditions is often possible in connection with works constructed pri-marily for irrigation and flood-control purposes, and

V~~AS, The cost of works for irrigation on v~stern streams has become increasingly great in relation to the ability of the irrigators to pay therefor;

NO'.I THEHEFOI.E BE IT HESOLVED, That the National Reclamation Asso~··

ciation urges that, where power is generated in connection with projects involving irrigation and/or flood-control regulation, the operation of such projects be conducted primarily for such irrigation a.nd/ or flood-control purposes and that rates charged for \.lny incidental pov/er gen-erated be so fixeQ as to afford such revenue to assist in the payment of project costs as may be consistent rrith reasonable rates for elec-tric pOHer, and that rates for po-vrer be not so reduced as to subsidize power users to the detriment of users of water for irrigation.

NO. 13

RES 0 L UTI 0 N

WHEREAS, The regionalization of the Bureau of Heclamation was wel-comed by the National Reolamation Association at its Twelfth Annual Con-vention in 1943, as a means of ple.cing more administrative authority of the Bureau nearer to the people of the West, whom it serves, and I although

manpower and other difficulties incident to the war emergency have delayed full realization of the objectives, good progress has been made toward effeotuating the regionalize.tion, and

WHBREAS, The importance of sound administrative organization of the Bureau of Reclamation is self_evident for the rea.son (a) that the Federal investment in western irrigation, power and related water projeots today totals more than ~900 gOOO ,000; (b) that authorized for construction are projects to cost in excess of ~800,OOOpOOO; (c) that investigations are under way to form and execute a ~3,OOO#OOO,OOO post-war construction pro-gram to provide employment and settlement opportunities on irrigated land for men who have served their country; and (d) that the Bureau of Reclamation is prosecuting wide-flung studies looking to a comprehensive

long-term program for the full utilization of the undeveloped water re-sources of the nation in the 17 Western States,

NOVi TIffiREFORE bE IT RE50LVED, That (8.) the National Reclamation Asso-ciation urges the Bureau of Reclamation to complete with the least pos-sible delay regionalization of its activities, accompanied by appropriate delegations of authority and powers to the Regional Directors, and

renews its recommendation that the administrative expenses of non-project offices be made reimbursable only to the extent and in the same manner as are the expenses of the general administrative office in Washington, and (b) that the Association endorses pending legislation before Congress to amend subsection "0" of the Faot Finders Act of 1924, which would ac-oomplish this purpose.

NO~ 14 RESOLUTION

fnlliP~, At the time of the organization of the National Reclamation

Association and during the earlier years of its activity, the main vlOrk and interest in the Western States related to irrigation, and

WHEHEAS, In recent years Federal policies and activities in flood control have been materially changed and expanded, and

WHEREAS, The best development of the water resourl1es of many western

streams requires the construction of flood-control projects, either separately or in combJn.at ion with use for irrigation and other purposes, and

VffiEREAS, These condit ions make it essential that the National Recla-mation Association be concerned with all Federal water development j.n-o terests in both flood control and irrigation in its member states and that the Association declare its position and policy in relation to flood-control projects on western streams,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT PESOLVED, That the National Reclamation Assoc ia-tion adopt and direct its officers and employees to support the fOllowing policies~

Is The National Reclamation Association asserts its equal oonoern in bQt~ Feaawal trrignt10u en~

flood

2~ Where proposed flood-control projects may be useful to non~Federal irrigation systems and lands the respective benefits to be afforded to the flood,~control and irrigation features involved should be determined by the Corps of Engineers, the United States Army, after local irrigation interests affected and agencies of the State in which the project is located have been advised and consulted durir~ all project investigations and given an opportunity to present data and make recommendations as to the proper allocation of project costs, which data and recommendatfons.

it afforded, should be attached to the appropriate reports sub-mitted to Congress.

3. Vlhere proposed flood-control projects may affect the irrigation of public lands or Federal irrigation projeots operating under reclamation laws the respeotive benefits af-forded to the flood-oontrol and irrigation features involved

should be determined by oooperation of the Federal agencies

involved without unnecessary duplioation of investigations anO

reports and vdthout competition for authorization to construct. Such determination should be made only after affording opportunity to agencies of the State in which the projeot is located and to

representatives of the lands irrigated or to be irri~ted to

advise and consult during all project investigations and to present data and recommendations as to the proper allocation of costs. which data and recommendations, if afforded, should be attached to all appropriate reports submitted thereon.

NO. 15

FtESCLUTION

1\"HEREAS, There have been introduced in the Congress bills proposing

the creation of valley authorities for the purpose of undertaking, among

numerous other'things, the development, utilization, and management of

waters of the several valleys named in the bills, generally referred to as authority bills, and

V;HEREAS, The enactment of said measures would result in the

elimina-tion of the Corps of Engineers as the agency carrying on flood control and navigation work in said valleys and the elimination of the Bureau of Reclamation as the agency ca.rrying on irrigation and related activities on the valley lands and the substitution of a nevJ organization to perform the functions presently assigned to these old established agencies, and

VlliEREAS, The Oorps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation are

long experienced in making surveys and plans in their respective fields and supervising their execution and are fully competent to continue, and

V~HEREAS, Authorities provided in proposed legislation are Government

corporations, vested with unlimited po'wers, clothed with Government.'. _

immunity from responsibility for their acts, free from ordinary congres-sional controls, beyond the jurisdiction of the General Accounting Office, established by Congress for supervising the expenditure of public funds;

~uuld deprive the states of jurisdiction over the distribution and use of

vraters within their boundaries; prevent compacts between states relating

to such v:aters; drastically interfere with and seek to control the

economy of the affected states; unreasonably and unwisely centralize in a Federal agency powers and duties more appropriately lodged in and effi-ciently perfonned by the states; bring into public ownership large segments

of privately oV.'ned property displacing tax revenues and thus increasing

taxes on remaining property, and finally build unv:holesome and undesirable

Government monopolies, and

WHEREAS, This tssociation at its meeting in Phoenix in

1941

its opposition to the enactment of regional or Valley authority legisla-tion, in any manner curtailing or destroying the functions of the Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation, by tending to transfer them

and their projects to other Governmental agencies, which position was affirmed at the 1942 and 1943 meetings of tbe Association, and

WHEREAS, For the reasons stated the Association is of t he opinion

such authorities are unnecessary, unwise, and undesirable,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That this Association, in regular meeting assembled, does hereby reaffirm its position on the several mat-ters covered by the resolution adopted at the Phoenix meeting, designated as Resolution No. 17, and does hereby declare its opPosition to the en-actment of regional or valley authority legislation for the rivers of the Nation, of the type and character containe'd in proposals no:w before Congress, and

BE IT FURI'BER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the governors of each of the states represented at the Chicago 11ater Conference on September? and 8, 1944, and members of the Congress, and the officials of the Association take all proper steps to defeat all such measures.

NOo

16

RES 0 L UTI 0 N

BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the members of the National Reclarmtion Association, in convention assembled at Denver, Colorado, at the 13th

. \

annual meeting of the Association, extend our thanks and appreciation to the Colorado Water Conservation Board and its personnel, the Denver Convention and Tou-rist Bureau, the individua.l members of t he Denver

Convention Committee~ the newspapers and radio stations, the hotels of

Denver, to those who have contributed to the program through their personal appearance, a nd to all others who have assisted in making the

meeting a success, including, in particular, Senator Joseph C. OtMahoney

of Wyoming; Senator Ernest W. McFarland of Ari~na; Senator Eugene D~

Millikin of Colorado; Congressman Jed Johnson of Oklahoma; CongTessman Francis Case of South Dakota; Congressman Carl T. Curtis of Nebraska; Congressman Frank Carlson of Kansas; Congressman J. Edgar Chenoweth of

Colorado; Congressman Robert Fo Rockwell of Colorado; eongressman

William S. Hill ef Colorado; the three easterm members of the Continuing Committee of the Chicago Water Conference, Attorney General Alban J.

Parker and

Mr.

H

r.

Pennsylvania.

We also desire to express our thanks to the people of Denver for

the excellent manner in which all matters pertaining to the meeting have

been handled in the face of Har conditions, vlhich of necessity must

receive first consideration.

The convention particularly extends its thanks and appreciation to the ShirleY-Savoy Hotel, its officers and stafr who have given the best possible service in handling the affairs of the meeting, and to the

Bureau of Reclamation Auxiliary which has ent~rtained the visiting

NO.1?

RES 0 L UTI 0 ::J

BS IT RGSOLVED, That the :~Rtional :ieclamation Association

meet-ing in Denver, Colorado, in its thirteenth annual convention, by this

resolution expresses to its retiring president, O. So Warden, its dee~ ~r~titude for the tireless and efficient service he has given to it since his first election to the presidency in 1935. He has

pre-sided over its meetina,s "ri th t act and grace 0 He has been constant in

his attention to the work of the ;~ssoeiation and the interests of its

member states. He has brou')'ht the Association through difficult

years to its present pos i tion of infl uenee and high standine. He

has proDoted the cause of recl~matjon and in so doin~ has served

not only the stHtes of t his Association but the N'ution i tselfo l'lith this resolution ~J to Iresi1ent 'rarden all good wishes for t':-.. <::; future e

The secretary of t he !~s8ocie.tion is hereby instructed to

deliver a copy of this resoluti on to Presi-ient 11

PROPOSED AMENDMENT

Sec. 2, Constitution National Reclamation Association

--000--"2 - The purposes of the Association shall be to pro-mote the dev-elopment, controlg conservation and utilization of the water resources of the West and to exert its efforts for the continuation of the services and the coordination of the exist-ing legally designated Federal agencies concerned, and to cooperate vnth and assist them in securing

prompt authorization and construction of such Federal projects as shall meet with the approval of the states and localities affected, and to promote the adoption of legislation in furtherance of these purposes as shall meet the approval of its Board of Directors~~