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. . . Western States Water Coun<;il Full Council Minutes Boise, Idaho April 22, 2005 California Jeanine ~ones joked that perhaps Los Angeles would share their water, "if you take the mud." The California State Water Plan has been updated and posted on their website. Their legislature is full time, and just starting to warm up. There is an attempt to pass a water use fee to fund the CALFED Bay-Delta program, and next fall we'll see the result. The Department is sponsoring a selenium conference in southern California on federal requirements and cost implications. Arizona Tom Carr said after nine years of drought, in four months we filled our reservoirs. He reported on the Arizona Water Rights and Gila Settlements, adding they have a partial Apache, and full Tohono O'Odam agreement. The Gila settlement includes well restrictions, and no new irrigated lands, as well as some municipal and industrial (M&I) limits and no dams on the Gila. It was signed by the governor this week. The Navajos are negotiating claims on the Colorado River mainstem. There is a Navajo suit against the Secretary of Interior. State revenues are up, and our base funding is up to where it was 3 years ago. We have a new drought and strategic water planning initiative to address rural or "rurban" growth, with new assistance and staff for rurban areas. We are in the midst of Colorado River negotiations with the other basin states on compact issues. Further, we are part of the $600 million multispecies ESA program with three states and the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to help restore, enhance and protect native fish and other species. The Arizona legislation provided a fee mechanism to fund our participation with a 50%-50% nonfederal match. Utah Walt Baker noted Utah has a new governor, Jon Huntsman, Jr. with a cabinet shake up and new initiatives coming. Utah has had a lot of skiers this year, and above average snowfall. While Lake Powell has dropped 100 feet, it is expected it will go up 50 feet. The SNW A proposed pipeline in Nevada has raised some concern in western Utah. Some Utah water users fear Nevadans could be taking their water. There are also a number of ore furnaces in eastern Nevada and mercury issues. We have three TMDLs along the Wasatch Front that could have dramatic effects on Utah Lake, the Jordan and Weber rivers, and impact the Great Salt Lake and salinity standards. He also reported that Mike Styler is the new head of the Utah Department of Natural Resources. Texas Weir Labatt noted Texas has had good moisture. He reported they have begun their first five year review of their 2002 50-year water plan. It involves 16 regional planning groups with a bottom up planning approach. The Texas legislature meets every two years. The Lt. Governor's office is proposing a water bill that would put a fee on residential use for anything over 5,000 gallons of $.13/thousand or about $125 million/year in new state revenue. It's project to have a 50%-50% 13