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<br />Western States Water Council <br />Water Resources Committee Minutes <br /> <br />Sioux Falls, South Dakota <br />May 3, 2007 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Bob reported that USGS Director Mark Meyers is very interested in the subject of climate change <br />and long-term stream gaging and well monitoring. The USGS, Corps, NWS and Reclamation will meet in <br />Washington, D.C. on May 31 to talk about a "So What?" research agenda. <br /> <br />NASA/USGS LANDSAT THERMAL SENSOR FUNDING <br />- Dave Tuthill, Acting Director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources <br /> <br />Dave provided a brief personal introduction, and praised Karl Dreher, his predecessor, saying he <br />had the support of this staff. <br /> <br />Dave used a powerpoint presentation to describe the IDWR's use of thermal data from existing <br />Landsat satellites to measure and monitor water use using METRIC (Mapping EvapoTranspiration at high <br />Resolution with Internalized Calibration) and SEBAL (Surface Energy Balance Algorithm for Land). <br />These tools are used to estimate consumptive water use and streamflow depletions through remote <br />sensing. Dave explained that compared to field measurements of water use, DWR could obtain data in <br />about two weeks on water use, at a substantial cost savings - thereby facilitating necessary enforcement <br />actions. <br /> <br />He noted the future of availability of Landsat thermal sensing data was uncertain, as NASA has <br />not requested funding for the sensor on Landsat 8. He expressed his appreciation and praise for the <br />Council's work to secure sufficient federal funding to maintain this important data. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />NRCSIFARM BILL. EOIP & REGIONAL WATER ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM & <br />WATERSHEDS - Dan Lawson, NRCS, Branch Chief, Conservation and Watershed Planning <br /> <br />Mr. Lawson is a graduate of Colorado State University. He used a powerpoint presentation and <br />first described the Administration's efforts to consolidate environmental contracts and streamline <br />programs within the NRCS Environmental Quality Improvement Program (EQIP). A summary of the <br />Title II Conservation programs was also including in the briefing books under Tab N. <br /> <br />Part of the Administration's effort includes the proposed Rural Water Enhancement Program <br />(RWEP) under EQIP, to combine multiple objectives on a watershed or district-wide program basis <br />involving state, local and non-governmental entities, in addition to individual producers. RWEP would <br />provide $175 million a year in mandatory funding for competitively awarded contracts with performance <br />criteria. <br /> <br />Mr. Lawson also noted the Environmental Protection Agency (EP A) has estimated it could take <br />as much as $17 billion to clean up Confined Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO), which is a priority for <br />EQIP spending. There is not enough money for state technical committees to spend on all the needs. <br /> <br />He also talked about a number of USDA programs, new program easements, the Conservation <br />Security Program (CSP), Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), Public Law-566 local watershed <br />operation and maintenance and rehabilitation program, Rapid Watershed Assessments, the Klamath <br />Basin. The NRCS watershed resource profile summary assessment matrix is a prescriptive evaluation of <br />watershed resources to determine size, scope, etc. He described how this fits into the NRCS continuum. . <br />It has been used in the Klamath Basin and the lessons learned and results have been very positive. <br /> <br />6 <br />