<br />Bureau of Reclamation on ground water recharge
<br />projects in the West, wRh a final report In September.
<br />The Committee also agreed to explore preparing a
<br />comparative summary and update of the 1990 WSWC
<br />legal review of recharge laws in the West. A draft
<br />matrix and summary containing sUlvey findings and
<br />recommendations concerning state water user fees
<br />were also discussed. Both will be revised and
<br />distributed for comment. The Committee considered
<br />the City of Aberdeen's purchase of the Corps'
<br />Wynoochee project. WRh respect to transfer issues,
<br />the Corps determined R could not legally shed liability
<br />for the project and agreed to a unique compromise
<br />where the Corps directs project operations once flood
<br />flows reach a certain . level. The Committee also
<br />discussed language on state water rights in recent
<br />regulations on grazing reform, which is generally
<br />thought to hav" western states' cautious support
<br />0/VSW #1037). The Committee also heard a report on
<br />a water information systems workshop held last month
<br />in Albuquerque IYISW #1036), It will create a
<br />subcommittee to monRoI' related issues and plan
<br />another workshop. Finally, the Committee reviewed
<br />the agenda for the Western Drought Conference,
<br />cosponsored by the Council, to be held In Portland,
<br />Oregon on May 10-13.
<br />
<br />Thll Legal Committee began Its meeting by
<br />reviewh'1g the posRion statement dllscribed above on
<br />fllderal reserved water rights for wlldernllss areas,
<br />Next, thll Committee discussed fedllral policy on
<br />environmental regulation In Indian Country, and then
<br />heard a report on the Twelfth Annual Water Law
<br />Conference IYISW #1031) cosponsored by the
<br />Council, and began planning next year's conference.
<br />The Committee heard reports on a number of cases,
<br />including U.S. v. Colorado IYISW #1029) and Musser
<br />v. Higginson IYISW #1035). The Committee also
<br />considered a final draft discussion paper on Improving
<br />coordination between federal entRies and state water
<br />managers in the implementation of the Endangered
<br />Species Act (ESA), which will be a major topic of the
<br />Council's 1994 Water Management Symposium to be
<br />held in early October in Colorado. The
<br />recommendations of the ESA paper will be discussed
<br />as part of the meeting.
<br />
<br />The Executive Committee reviewed the status of the
<br />current budget, the proposed budget for the next
<br />fiscal year, and dues projections. It determined to
<br />postpone until 1996 the Council's Washington, D.C.
<br />
<br />Seminar. Further, the Committee considered a
<br />number of matters of internal Council business.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The Water Quality Committee began Rs meeting
<br />wRh a legislativll update on the CWA reauthorization,
<br />which included a report on House and Senate
<br />activRles and. the efforts of various organizations to
<br />respond to pending legislation, particularly the Senate
<br />bill. Next, the Committee discussed and refined the
<br />Council's CWA posRlon statement and the letter to
<br />Senator Baucus on S. 1114. This was followed by an
<br />update .on the reauthorization of the Safe Drinking
<br />Water Act (SDWA). Further, the Committee heard a
<br />report on the Watershed Management Workshop
<br />sponsored by the Council and the Western Governors'
<br />Association IYISW #1033),
<br />
<br />On April 15, the Council's 114111 ('), larterly meeting
<br />began with . Bob Schwartz describing the City of
<br />Seattle's Highline Well Field ground water recharge
<br />project, which was completed wRh funding under the
<br />Bureau of Reclamation's recharge demonstration
<br />program, Seattle relies on surface water to supply
<br />98% of Rs needs. While the recharge project will
<br />provide only a small amount of water, R Is Important
<br />for meeting peak summer demands, and providing an
<br />emergency winter supply. Next, the Council heard
<br />Dave Monthie, affiliated wRh the Association of State
<br />Drinking Water Administrators (ASDWA), describe
<br />efforts to rllauthorlze the SDWA and ASDWA's
<br />response to them. He explained the difficulty and
<br />financial strain involved In meeting current SDWA
<br />requirements. A "coalRlon bill," introduced In the
<br />House by Reps. Jim Slattery (D-KS) and Thomas J.
<br />SlIIey, Jr. (R-VA) as H.R. 3392, would make many
<br />needed changes. The bill currently has 151
<br />cosponsors, but Is not favored by key House leaders
<br />0/VSW #1027). In the Senate, the Environment
<br />Committee has approved S, 1547, to amend SDWA.
<br />It would make helpful changes, according to Mr.
<br />Mantilia, but not as many as H.R. 3392. Committee
<br />reports followed, concludingwRh a presentation to the
<br />COl,lncil. of an award from the Interstate Council of
<br />Water Policy for "outstanding leadership In the field of
<br />water resource management and policy."
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The next Council meetings will be hosted by the
<br />state of Wyoming and held In Cody on August 17-19.
<br />The meetings will be the first In a transRion to a three-
<br />meetlng-per-year format. The following meetings are
<br />scheduled for December 7-9 In San Antonio, Texas.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL Is an organization of representatives appointed by the Govemors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, NllVllda, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon,
<br />South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member states Montana and Okla/1oma.
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