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OO~i 57(' . WESTE STATE WATER~ TIlE WEEKLY NEWSLETIER OF TIlE WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201 f 942 East 7145 So. f Midvale, Utah 84047 1 (SOl) 561-5300 f FAX (SOl) 255-%42 Chairman - Dave Kennedy; Executive Director - Craig Bell; Editor - Ricky S. Torrey; Typist - Carrie Curvin WATER RESOURCES CalWomia . California's increasing water demand and shrinking supplies have prompted key developments over the past week. Water supplies in California, already stretched to the limit in wet years, are again at historic lows, after a brief respite in 1993. Douglas P. Wheeler, State Resources Secretary, announced on June 15th the reopening of the State water bank. Originally established by Governor Pete Wilson during the 1 991 drought, the water bank is being reactivated "in what is likely to be the fourth driest year of the century," Secretary Wheeler said. The Department of Water Resources was given permanent statutory authority in 1 992 to operate the water bank when needed. As of June 1st, storage in 155 major California reservoirs was at 86% of historical average. Secretary Wheeler said the state will buy up to 300,000 acro-feet to meet the requests of fourteen water agencies. David Kennedy, Department of Water Resources (DWR) Director and Chairman of the Western States Water Council, said the state may also buy water in the fall to help maintain its wildlWe refuges. The state will pay $50 an acre-foot and, after administrative and transfer costs, sell the water to many districts for $70. The projected costs are much lower than the $125 per acre-foot the state paid in 1991. . In related developments this week, California state officials and federal authorities signed an agreement to work together to help solve California's water needs. The agreement aims to ease perennial conflict among competing interests in the state's water resources. The pact, which was more than a year in the making, has been hailed as a major turning point in state- federal relations. In general terms, it pledges federal participation in finding a lasting solution to the bay- delta problems that will both restore declining fish populations and improve water delivery for urban and agricultural areas relying on delta exports. It provides that details will be developed "as soon as practicable." Stephen Hall, Executive Director of the Association of California Water Agencies which represents most of the state's water suppliers, commented thai he is 'delighted that they have reached agreement." However, he noted, "these are not long-term partners walking arm-in-arm. These are adversaries edging close to one another on a huge issue." Environmental Defense Fund spokesman Tom Graff echoed a cautious approval of the agreement. "We have a long way to go before knowing whether there will be any meat on this agreement or whether it's an agreement of form, not substance," Graff said. Colorado River - Lower Basin On June 8-9, Senator Bill Bradley (D-NJ) chaired oversight hearings addressing water problems and possible solutions in the Lower Colorado River Basin. The hearing brought testimony from senators and others and provided a wealth of information (WSW #1046). Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) opened the hearing. He noted, "The western states are experiencing tremendous growth, straining our natural resources, our traditional way of life and perhaps most importantly, the literal lifeline of the west that is the Colorado River....ln 1929, when the waters of the lower Colorado were apportioned, no one could have guessed that southern Nevada would become a major metropolitan center....Since no one foresaw Nevada's growth, we were given the smallest apportionment of water....Unfortunately,today, Nevada's 4% share of the