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Western States Water Council Legal Committee Washington, DC March 27, 2006 . WASHINGTON Stephen Bernath Joe Stohr WYOMING Sue Lowry GUESTS Emma T. Suarez, U.S. Department ofInterior, Washington, DC STAFF D. Craig Bell Tony Willardson Shaun McGrath Cheryl Redding WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS The meeting was called to order by Bill Staudenmaier, Chair of the Legal Committee. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes from the meeting held in San Antonio, Texas on October 20, 2005 were approved as circulated. . The Executive Committee has asked us to address one Council resolution that is due to sunset and that is the resolution in support of Indian water rights settlements. The Executive Committee felt the that 2nd resolve clause should be rephrased to urge the Administration to be more active on this, rather than commending them. Susan Cottingham rewrote the clause as follows: BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the WSWC recommends that the administration's stated policy of support for Indian land and water settlements be supported by a strong fiscal commitment for meaningful federal contributions to these settlements that recognize the trust obligations of the U.S~ government. This makes a stated policy and asks for the strong fiscal commitment. A rephrasing seems appropriate. He asked for a motion to approve the proposal to modify the resolution. It was seconded and approved. UPDATE ON PUBLICATION OF TAKINGS ARTICLE Craig Bell reported that he had hoped to have copies of the reprints that have been published by the Denver Water Law Review. It was due the first of the year to be published. Craig has seen the proofs, but has not received the prints. It recognizes the Legal Committee as author, and thus acknowledges the legal . capacity of the Council to publish such articles. This is a very timely issue as you well know. 2