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<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. <br />