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<br />:1 <br />Ii <br />. <br /> <br />. <br />I <br />:I <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Western States Water Council <br />Water Resources Committee Minutes <br /> <br />San Antonio, Texas <br />October 20,2005 <br /> <br />example. )[t may be positive or negative, depending on your perspective in terms of water <br />conservation. On the other hand, the power plants need water. We try to put those things into our <br />current system in terms of how water is made available for water rights and permitting and changes of <br />uses. All of that structure, Dave explained, is peripheral. It is not a part of the mix in terms of our <br />understanding of how much water is needed and allocated. We have a real disadvantage. <br /> <br />Roland Westergard said that the Executive Committee will likely be considering the topic for <br />the sympm:ium for the Fall of 2006. The subject includes, "State Water Programs and Strategies." I <br />don't know whether the topics of desalination or the water-energy nexus might fit well for the subject <br />of that symposium. Dave noted that this should be passed on to the Executive Committee. <br /> <br />Shaun McGrath suggested that the Council may want to coordinate with WGA on the topic of <br />the energy.-water nexus, because the Western Interstate Energy Board, which is the WGA's sister <br />organization of the energy directors, may also be taking this up. <br /> <br />Duane noted that it doesn't hurt to add a paragraph similar to what we already have on the <br />other items on each of the items we feel are important. Rather than having just seven items in the work <br />plan, have ten. Some of these items are generally an update of action items. I would not have a <br />problem including a short paragraph of our interest in the items on weather modification, desalination, <br />and energy. I would include them as separate items rather than lumping them into the one water <br />management issue. Weir seconded Duane's suggestion. <br /> <br />W,~ need to make sure that we have enough staff time to devote to the items we include in the <br />work plan. <br /> <br />Shaun pointed out with respect to item #7, on Climate Variability and Change, that he, Tony, <br />and Jeanine had conversations about this issue. There are a number of states that are beginning to get <br />active with this topic. The Pacific Coast states all have an agreement. New Mexico and Arizona both <br />have an executive order on climate change. Does the Council want to begin to engage in the <br />discussion,. and perhaps even drive some of the dialogue, in terms of what we can do to mitigate <br />climate change? The WGA Air Director heads the Western Regional Air Partnership and they are <br />taking part in these discussions. Does the Council want to engage in this discussion as it pertains to <br />water? <br /> <br />Kalrl Dreher noted that the Water Resources Committee's agenda is typically very full. <br />Somehow we need to prioritize. It seems like we are mixing short and moderate term needs with <br />longer term needs. In my view, desalination is a longer term prospect. I don't know where I'd put the <br />energy-water nexus. Climate variability is currently upon us, and it affects not only water quantity, but <br />it also affects water quality. Water quality administrators are setting TMDLs as if it is a static system <br />- we can allocate loads and nothing is going to change. Regarding the temperature of surface water, it <br />may very well change, and we may not be able to control it - even if we don't let any temperature <br />loads occur. This is not meant as criticism toward the staff, but I don't care for the way the climate <br /> <br />11 <br />