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<br />Nevada. Governors discussed several matters of
<br />regional and national importance. Among the
<br />prominent guests, George Frampton, Assistant
<br />Secretary of Interior for Fish and Wildlife and Parks,
<br />and Jim Lyons, Assistant Secretary of Agriculture
<br />for Natural Resources and the Environment, joined
<br />with the governors on June 13 to discuss their
<br />Departments' programs and policies. Mr. Frampton
<br />announced the imminent publication of proposed
<br />policy changes regarding ESA implementation Isee
<br />related article).
<br />
<br />Later in the day, the governors heard reports
<br />from three multi-state organizations: the Western
<br />Interstate Energy Board IWIEB), the Western States
<br />Water Council IWSWCL and the Western Interstate
<br />Commission on Higher Education (WICHE). Dave
<br />Kennedy, WSWC Chairman and Director of the
<br />California Department of Water Resources, gave the
<br />report on behalf of the Council. Incoming WGA
<br />Chairman, Governor Mike Leavitt of Utah, noted
<br />that he had benefitted from the Council's work on
<br />several occasions during the past year and that he
<br />considered the Council a very valuable resource.
<br />
<br />The positive comments of Governor Leavitt were
<br />echoed in a report prepared for the governors by an
<br />outside consultant, pursuant to a request made last
<br />year for review of multistate organizations in the
<br />West. Among other things, the report noted that
<br />"coordination with...WSWC on policy development
<br />and national lobbying is a model." With regard to
<br />the Council in particular, the report noted with
<br />approval the examples of presentation of joint
<br />testimony, close staff-to-staff communication, and
<br />participation in the WGA work plan. Besides the.
<br />three organizations above, referred to in the report
<br />as the "Big Three," the report also discussed non-
<br />affiliated MSO's and made a number of suggestions
<br />for improving their efficiency and accountability.
<br />The report was submitted to the governors in draft
<br />form for review and comment. .
<br />
<br />.As WGA Chair, Governor Leajlitt seeks increased
<br />cooperation among the member 'governors to "raise
<br />the rhetoric" about how the f~deral government
<br />treats western concerns. He pmmised to work in
<br />the coming year for a "strong'er voice, a better
<br />balance, and a West that works,;" Governor Leavitt
<br />concluded by stressing that governors must look to
<br />themselves in making statell more effective
<br />competitors in the public opiniortl forum.
<br />
<br />PUBLICATIONS
<br />
<br />The Rocky Mountain Institute has recently .
<br />published several reports on improving water use
<br />efficiency. The reports cover various innovative
<br />solutions to water resource probiems, including
<br />such topics as improving water quality with more
<br />efficient irrigation, promoting water-efficient
<br />landscaping by utilities and community planners,
<br />and moving saved waters to the environment. For
<br />a publications list, contact the Rocky Mountain
<br />Institute, 1739 Snowmass Creek Road, Snowmass,
<br />CO 81654-9199 or call (303) 927-3851.
<br />
<br />The Center for Water and Wildlife Resources
<br />have recently published the proceedings of the
<br />Fourth Biennial Watershed Management Conference.
<br />The 1992 event was co-sponsored by the
<br />Watershed Management Council. The publication
<br />includes eleven papers on integrated watershed
<br />management. It is available from the Centers for
<br />Water and Wildland Resources at the University of
<br />California, 1323 Academic Surge, Davis, CA
<br />95616-8750, (916) 752-8070.
<br />
<br />The 900-page proceedings of the 1993 National
<br />Conference on Watershed Management are now
<br />published under U.S. Government Printing Office .
<br />publication number 1994-300-781/12415.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />WSWC Executive Director Craig Bell has recently
<br />completed 20 years of service with the Council. He
<br />began in 1974 as the Council's Legal Counsel, and
<br />was named Executive Director in 1980. He was
<br />honored at a June 2 luncheon at the Council office.
<br />Only one other Council emplqyee, Peari Pollick, has
<br />achieved 20 years of service,with the Council.
<br />
<br />After 14 years with WSYVC, Norman Johnson
<br />will somewhat reluctantly resign as WSWC Legal
<br />Counsel, effective July 1. He has accepted a
<br />position in the Utah AttorneY General's Office to
<br />represent the Divisions of Wildlife Resources and
<br />Parks and Recreation. He will be missed.
<br />
<br />Ricky S. Torrey will be the Council's new Legal
<br />Counsel. She will soon cOlT)plete her LL.M. (post
<br />graduate law degree) in environmental, natural
<br />resources, and energy law.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNC'L Is en organization of ,epre.entatlve. eppointed by the Governor. of m.~b.r .tat... Ala.ke, Arizona,
<br />California. Colorado. HawaII. Idaho. Nevada; New Muloo. North Dakota. Oregon. South Dakota, Texas. Utah, and Wv~mlng. and auoclate member
<br />.tates Montane, Oklahoma, end Washlngtc'n.
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