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<br />Water Conservation
<br />
<br />President Clinton signed a national performance
<br />review initiative on water conservation on March 8.
<br />The Federal Energy and Water Efficiency Executive
<br />Order will improve energy use and water conservation
<br />in federal buildings nationwide, and empower federal
<br />managers to implement related conservation
<br />measures, Based on past efforts, and its new mission,
<br />the Bureau of Reclamation intends to lead out among
<br />federal agencies in carrying out the executive order,
<br />according to a recent Bureau press release. The
<br />Energy Policy Act of 1992 called for water
<br />conservation facilities to be installed in federally owned
<br />facilities by 2005. Reclamation intends to meet the
<br />deadline within 5 years,
<br />
<br />ORGANIZATION~
<br />
<br />ICWP Roundtable
<br />
<br />The Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP) held
<br />its 1994 Washington, D.C. Roundtable on March 8-9.
<br />The meeting focused on a number of issues pending
<br />before the Administration and Congress, and how
<br />various multi-state, executive branch organizations
<br />might work together more effectively. The session
<br />began with representatives from the National
<br />Governors' Association, Association of State and
<br />Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators, the
<br />Association of State Dam Safety Officials, the
<br />Association of State Floodplain Managers, and the
<br />Western States Water Council discussing their
<br />priorities and activities. Many of these priorities were
<br />tied tei Clean Water Act (CWA) reauthorization issues,
<br />although other matters were included as well.
<br />
<br />Following the panel discussion, Bureau of
<br />Reclamation Commissioner Dan Beard described the
<br />future of the Bureau. After his remarks, a panel
<br />discussed several items of interest involving the U.S.
<br />Geological Survey, including the federal/state
<br />cooperative program and the future mission and
<br />structure of USGS. The following day, a similar
<br />roundtable was held on Corps of Engineer's programs
<br />and priorities. A brief review of the activities of the
<br />"Interagency Floodplain Management Review"
<br />followed, Attendees then discussed in more detail
<br />programs and priorities of the Soil Conservation
<br />Service, including the small watershed and wetland
<br />reserve programs.
<br />
<br />The conCluding agenda item centered on issues
<br />before Congress. The first panel examined the impact
<br />of the Endangered Species Act on water management. .
<br />This was followed by discussions on unfunded federal
<br />mandates, the cost of environmental regulation
<br />generally, and the CWA reauthorization. David Pope,
<br />ICWP Chair and Director of the Kansas Division of
<br />Water Resources, offered closing remarks.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />Glenwood Springs attorney, and WSWC alternate
<br />member, Jim Lochhead has been appointed by
<br />Governor Roy Romer as the Director of the Colorado
<br />Department of Natural Resources, Lochhead is a
<br />recognized water law expert with experience in
<br />Colorado's intra- and interstate environmental and
<br />natural resource management issues,
<br />
<br />Dr. Edward Dickey no longer serves as Acting
<br />Assistant Army Secretary for Civil Works. He has
<br />returned to the Corps' Washington, D.C. headquarters
<br />to do policy planning and analysis. Dickey has been
<br />replaced by Dr. John Zirschky, former assistant to
<br />Senator James Jeffords and staff member of the
<br />Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
<br />Zirschky will also serve in an "acting" capacity.
<br />
<br />PUBUCATIONS .
<br />
<br />The Rocky Mountain Institute recently released
<br />"Water Efficient Landscaping: A Guide for Utilities and
<br />Community Planners." It details new implementation
<br />and management practices to promote cost effective
<br />water saving in urban landscapes, The report is $10,
<br />postpaid. Contact RMI, 1739 Snowmass Creek Road,
<br />Snowmass, Colorado 81654-9119; (303) 927-3851 (ask
<br />for publication W94-8).
<br />
<br />The Idaho Department of Water Resources has just
<br />published Idaho Irrigation Water Conservation. It
<br />reviews Idaho water law and current practices
<br />regarding irrigation water use and efficiency and
<br />recommends actions needed for economic growth,
<br />environmental protection, and social equity. It
<br />describes Idaho's financial incentive programs for
<br />irrigated agriculture, summarizes water conservation
<br />incentive programs in the western states, and contains
<br />public comments on the 1993 draft of the report. For
<br />information contact IDWR, 1301 N. Orchard St., Boise,
<br />ID 83706; (208) 327-7900.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Nonh Dakota, Oregon,
<br />South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member states Montana and Oklahoma
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