WSP12258

• File Number: 8021
• Description: Section D General Correspondence - Western States Water Council
• State: CO
• Basin: Statewide
• Date: 1/7/1994
• Author: Western States Water
• Title: Western States Water 1994 - Issues 1025-1076
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Publication

and trolled by the millions in Alaskan waters, which is
enjoying record salmon runs this season.

On June 15, Canada blockaded the 1000-mile
Inside Passage that runs up the Canadian Coast and
demanded a $1 ,500 "transit fee" from U.S. commercial
fishing boats headed toward Alaska. Several hundred
U.S. fishermen paid the fee, though others refused.
Canada has since threatened even tougher actions,
including catching the remaining salmon that might
otherwise return to U.S. waters.

Canada attributes the current dearth of salmon in
Canadian and U.S. rivers to the despoilment of salmon
habitat in the U.S. and to Americans' excessive
harvesting of salmon breeding stock. Canadian
officials claim that the U.S. catch of salmon spawned
in British Columbia last year exceeded the Canadian
catch of U.S.-spawned salmon by some six million fish,
and expect the gap to widen by another two million
salmon this year. Although U.S officials say these
numbers are too high, they have not countered with
their own figures. Canada has offered to help rebuild
decimated U.S. salmon stocks, but only if the two
countries can negotiate an equitable catch ratio.

Under a 1985 saimon treaty between the U.S. and
Canada, the U.S. promised to narrow the catch
imbalance. The treaty, which took fourteen years to
negotiate, expired last year. It was temporarily
renewed this year while the parties attempted to
allocate the salmon catch. Breakdowns in the talks
between Alaska and other salmon states triggered the
recent Canadian blockade.

WATER QUAUlY

Clean Water Act Update

Reauthorization of the Clean Water Act this vear is
becoming a more unlikelv prospect. Norm Mineta,
Chairman of the House Public Works Committee, is
finding it difficult to get sufficient votes to move a bill
out of Committee, and until the House does 50,
Senator Baucus, Chairman of the Senate Environment
and Public Works Committee, does not intend to press
forward with his bill, S. 2093. Furthermore, several
concerns have been raised regarding S. 2093 by
members of the Senate, and it is not clear that
Senator Baucus has the votes needed to pass the bill
on the Senate floor. (WSW #1046)

There has been some speculation that a "Clean
Water Act Light" bill could be adopted, but Senator
Baucus has firmly opposed this alternative to a
comprehensive reauthorization bill. Indeed, Senator
Baucus has indicated he is opposed to any "cherry
picking" which would include any extension of funding
for the state revolving loan fund. Although the
Administration reached agreement with the Congress
that the Clean Water Act reauthorization would be
given priority over reauthorization of Superfund, in light
of these developments, while it is still possible that
Congress will move a bill, it grows increasingly unlikely
with each passing day.

.

MEETINGS

The Wemem C~,aJition o! Arid States <I^o'ESTCAS)
is sponsoring its summer meeting July 20-22 in San
Diego. "Water resource development--the new frontier"
will be the topic, including a discussion on the effects
of the Endangered Species Act on water resource
management. For information call [phone].

PUBUCATlONS

United States Geological Survey/Universities Council
on Water Resources

A new computerized water resources network is
available over the Internet and by modem. The
University Water Information Network (UWIN) has been
created through joint efforts of the United States
Geological Survey (USGS) and the Universities Council
on Water Resources. There is no fee to access data
or post information on the UWIN database.

.

The UWIN network includes the USGS directory of
abstracts on water research published since 1967, and
National Institutes for Water Research publications and
public information directories. It also contains a
directory of water experts listed by name, area of
expertise, organization, geographical area, etc. Other
directories under development include: listings of on-
going contracts and new funding opportunities in
water research, water resources computer models,
graduate education and jobs listings, an events
calendar and bulletin board capabilities.

For more information, write UWIN, 4542 Faner Hall,
Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL 62901 or
phone [phone].

The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
member states - Alaska, Arizona, CalWomia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon,
South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, and associate member states Montana, Oklahoma, and Washington.