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. II II , . . " Western States Water Council Water Resources Committee Minutes Sheridan, Wyoming October 5, 2006 Sue Lowry: I agree with Weir that it should include other purposes, not just agriculture. Wdr added that we should have best management practices (BMPs) in all areas. Norm Semanko observed that the Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District used to have 2,000 customers on 50,000 acres, and now serves 50,000 municipal users, but don't deliver less water. Agriculture employs many conservation techniques. Further, many water transfers are not really from agriculture to municipal and industrial use, but are delivered to subdivisions for landscaping irrigation, rather than crops. "How much water do you put on?" Norm noted that in the Nampa-Meridian Irrigation District they are doing what they need to do in terms of agricultural water conservation. He suggested that perhaps it is the homeowners who need to be targeted. Tony noted the original concern with the USDA's definition of net water conservation, as part of its conservation programs, and the scope of work. Dave Pope: "What's the goal, increased production and on-farm efficiency or a net reduction in demand?" We shouldn't ignore conservation in meeting urban netlds. There may not be one definition. Garland Erbele: "Irrigation draws a big bull's eye. The rural water associations have wonderful programs on water conservation. There is a lot of information available." Su,~ suggested we might illustrate the whole gamut with examples and case studies. Jeanine Jones: "The American Water Works Association (A WW A) reports on the effectiveness of measures in the urban sector, but it is more difficult in the agricultural sector." Larry And'~rson: "The definition of conservation - sprinkling compared to furrow irrigation - may not consume kss, but only divert less." State water law and policy prohibit irrigating more ground with water savings. Duane Smith: "Conservation is an issue with water supply and building new reservoirs. Texas is looking at every possible site for new water supply projects. There is often criticism related to of per capita use/day. Water con~;ervation is proposed as a alternative. We should look at the nay sayers, and address their arguments. We can also look at the role of conservation in the permitting process with our federal partners. It is not as useful to just list municipal measures and plumbing code requirements. Rather, we should ask, how are Wf: managing water through conservation?" Dennis Strong: "Others look at conservation as not using it, rather than saving water to use for new population needs, which is anathema to environmental groups." Sue: "The document would be mostly for others." Dennis: "People who don't think the way we think." 17