The comprehensive plan shall be adopted, revised and modified as provided in sections 3.2 and 13.1 of the Compact. It is the commission's responsibility to adopt the comprehensive plan, after consultation with water users and interested public bodies, for the immediate and long-range development and uses of the water resources of the basin. The plan shall include the public and private projects and facilities which the commission determines are required for the optimum planning, development, conservation, utilization, management and control of the water resources of the basin to meet present and future needs. In addition to the included projects and facilities, the comprehensive plan consists of the statements of policies, and programs that the commission determines are necessary to govern the proper development and use of the river basin. The documents within the comprehensive plan expressing the commission's policies and programs for the future, including the means for carrying them out, may be set forth through narrative text, maps, charts, schedules, budgets and other appropriate means.

Specific projects and facilities and statements of policy and programs may be incorporated, deleted or modified from time to time to reflect changing conditions, research results and new technology. The degree of detail described in particular projects may vary depending upon the status of their development.