PUB00146 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

- Western States Water Council Water Resources Committee Minutes San Antonio, Texas October 20,2005 . resources information as Montana continues to cope with drought. Of note, the use of NASA's Landsat earth observations in measuring evapotranspiration was described, as well as the threat to this data due to aging and malfunctioning satellites that need to be replaced. Thus, it is important that the Council adopt a position on this issue. 2006 WATER RESOURCES COMMITTEE WORK PLAN Dave Pope mentioned that Tab G contains the Committee's proposed work plan for 2006. It was put together by staff. Dave began by clarifying that on page 2, item #2, parts A and B, the Subcommittee's should be merged and combined into one subcommittee. Phil Ward will be the Subcommittee chair. A new item on the Farm Bill was included on the proposed work plan. There is no subcommittee listed for this item. Jeanine's subcommittee on Water Resources Management and Program Funding has been tracking Farm Bill issues. However, there is a relationship with the Water Conservation Subcommittee that Sue Lowry chairs. Jeanine Jones suggested that the Farm Bill Subcommittee be under the Executive Committee and we should get folks from both water quality and water quantity perspectives involved. Duane Smith asked where the desalination discussion and wastewater infrastructure needs fits, as well as weather modification. Could we develop a "fix-all" water augmentation item? . Dave Pope stated that originally the Committee discussed future water needs at the September 2004 meeting in Salt Lake City. It was intended to include storage, and it did not explicitly include desalination, although water augmentation and water supply fit within that framework. A comment was made. about new technologies advancing to recover wastewater, cut desalination costs, as well as provide innovative storage. These items seem to fit within item #4 under Water Resources Management and Program Funding. A question was raised as to whether or not weather modification was included. Dave noted that the Committee adopted a position at the last meeting in support of weather modification. Duane suggested that the Committee's work plan should include weather modification or augmentation as a main topic. Dave then commented that a sentence should be added to item #4 to make clear that weather modification and augmentation are included. Weir Labatt urged that in keeping with the discussion during the morning session, the work plan should include an item on the energy and water nexus. Eileen agreed. Dave's sense is that with the upcoming series of workshops and activities that there is emphasis on the energy-water nexus to some degree. He asked what level of interest there is in the issue. Speaking candidly, Dave stated that it is a real issue on both sides. Increased energy prices have a major effect on costs for irrigation, for . 10 ~