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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Western States Water Council <br />Water Resources Committee Minutes <br /> <br />Santa Ana Pueblo, New Mexico <br />October 28, 2004 <br /> <br />Nancy provided a handout about iW A TERS and how to access the information. <br /> <br />Dave Pope declared that IT's value is being able to do so much more with existing staff, since <br />it is very difficult to get more people. <br /> <br />WATER INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS (WIMS) WORKSHOP <br /> <br />Tony Willardson reported that the Council sponsored its WIMS workshop in Sun Valley, Idaho <br />on October 18-20, in conjunction with meetings of the Western States Adjudication Conference. <br />Thirty-one information technology experts involved in adjudications, water use and planning, water <br />quality management, and similar resource issues from ten states participated. State and federal <br />information needs and available resources were discussed, along with different hardware and software <br />solutions. <br /> <br />Increasing public access to water information and security were mentioned, along with the need <br />for greater federal and state coordination, and opportunities to collaborate in gathering water quantity <br />and quality data. The use of infrared, thermal imaging to identify and estimate water use was <br />demonstrated, but this tool is threatened as NASA's LANDSAT program plans to drop the thermal <br />band data in the future. <br /> <br />NATIONAL INTEGRA TED DROUGHT INFORMATION SYSTEM ACTIVITIES <br /> <br />Shaun McGrath updated Committee members regarding NIDIS activities and efforts to enact <br />federal drought legislation. A letter to the President on the NIDIS '06 request mentioned a White <br />House priority for research on water supply. We expect a $4-5 million request in the President's FY06 <br />budget, and maybe some NOAA money still in FY05. The Western Governors' Association (WGA) <br />and NOAA are seeking funding to continue NIDIS work. <br />Jack Stults added NIDIS is not just about drought, it is a water information system, not just a drought <br />information system. <br /> <br />WATER USE FEES/PROJECT FINANCING <br /> <br />Karl Dreher observed, "There are only three things to do in a drought: (1) manipulate the <br />supply; (2) extend the supply with projects; or (3) reduce demand." Idaho has considered using the <br />federal Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) program, as well as the subordination (lease or purchase) <br />of existing rights to reduce agricultural water demands. Some Snake River irrigators lift water 600-800 <br />feet to their lands, with power costs of $250/acre. Idaho is looking to acquire water rights that can be <br />exchanged for storage in the Upper Snake system for Endangered Species Act (ESA) purposes. "How <br />do you pay for that?" Do you use general funding for part or all of it? Some state legislators say, <br />"This isn't our problem." The state has considered some type of basin-by-basin water use fee, using a <br />"beneficiary pays principle." <br /> <br />11 <br />