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'I . :1 Ii . ~ :1 Western States Water Council Executive Committee Minutes San Antonio, Texas October 20,2005 Shaun further reported that at the WGA Winter Meeting there will be a plenary session on disasters. James Lee Witt will be coming to talk about what states can do to be better prepared for natural disasters. If you have thoughts on floods, drought, those kinds of issues, and if you are able to talk to your state's WGA Staff Council member, this would be another issue to discuss. PROPOSED 2006 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE WORK PLAN Chairman Simpson called the committee's attention to Tab E, which contains the draft work plan. Under Item #3, the Water Management Symposium, the Water Quality Committee determined not to handle the "State Watershed Programs and Strategies" workshop in 2006. So the question is what would be an appropriate workshop to be held in the fall of 2006. Conjunctive use was suggested by staff a:; an alternative workshop, but the committee decided this topic is too specific to individual states. Based on the ideas discussed in the Water Resources Committee, the Executive Committee decided to hold a workshop on "Emerging Issues." Staff will draft a work plan item to incorporate these conl;epts. SUNSETTING POLICY POSITIONS Position #247 which is in the form of a letter to Bennett Raley suggesting how the federal government might help expedite state general stream systems adjudications in the West is due to sunset. Following the Executive Committee conference call prior to this meeting, staff revised the letter into two separate documents: (1) a draft resolution which simply updates the information in the letter to Mr. Raley; and (2) a draft letter to Interior Secretary Norton and Attorney General Gonzales which provides a brief background and incorporates the policy recommendations included in the draft resolution. The committee voted on retaining the position in the form of the resolution and sending the letter. With respect to Position #248, the Executive Committee deferred to the Water Resources Committee chair. Dave Pope reported that the Water Resources Committee determined to ask the ESA Subcommittee to not allow the position to sunset, to work on the issue and flesh out something more current. Thus, the action is to renew the position. Regarding position #248(a), which is in the form of a letter to then OMB Director Mitchell encouraging continued support of EPA's Section 319 Program, Hal turned to the Water Quality Committee for their recommendation. Shaun stated that the Water Quality Committee recommended to the Council to keep the position active. In fact, they decided it would be good to update the letter and send the current letter to OMB. Then, once the President's budget comes out in January, send a letter to the Appropriations and Budget Committees. FUNDING WATER DEVELOPMENT AND MANAGEMENT FOR A SUSTAINABLE FUTURE WORKSHOP RECOMMENDATIONS Jeanine Jones reported that the attendees at the workshop did not really discuss any specific actions to be taken. However, items that came out as possible follow-ups included a high degree of 7