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Western States Water Council Full Council Minutes Sioux Falls, South Dakota May 4, 2007 Congressionally authorized Pick-Sloan Missouri River project purposes include flood control, navigation (on about 735 river miles), hydropower (36 units with revenues that go to repay the federal investment), irrigation, recreation (which has developed to a far greater extent than was originally envisioned), water supply/water quality (drinking water, cooling water, and municipal and domestic water for smaller tribal communities) and fish and wildlife. There are three threatened or endangered species on the river, the Interior least tern, piping plover, and pallid sturgeon. Missouri River runoff is about 50% mountain snowmelt and 25% plains snowmelt and the rest is rainfall. This year there will be low snowmelt runoff, in the 8th year of drought. There are multiple economic and environmental interests along the year, and 28 tribes. All are affected by dropping reservoir storage. The Corps estimates the economic impact to navigation $8-$10 million/year. A major economic impact in South Dakota is the loss of hydropower. Lake Oahe is down 37 feet from normal operating head, which has cut power generation 30%. Some 45,000 irrigated acres depend on water from Oahe. In 2002, 15% reported no irrigation was possible due to low water levels. In 2003,36% of that acreage had not been irrigated, and in 2004, about 50% were not irrigated. . Rural drinking water systems will cover 65% ofthe state and supply water to 50% of the population. The drought has put water intakes along the river at risk. Some 14,000 people depend on the Mni Waste rural water intake, and a new intake location has been proposed. The Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe came to the state for assistance. The state has provided up to $1 million. The Corps agreed an emergency intake is required and estimates the true cost of an emergency solution to be $8-$10 million. The project should be . done this summer. The Corps estimates the economic impact of recreation in basin, boating and fishing, to be $80 million/year. Walleye angling is popular, and dropping reservoir levels effect smelt, a forage fish that spawns in spring at the waters edge. Smelt need steady or rising water levels in reservoirs. Lake access and boat ramps are also affected. Solutions to drought related problems include conserving water, minimizing impacts of low water levels on fisheries, and suggested revisions to the Corps' Master Manual for reservoir operations, which would be politically difficult due to water conflicts in the basin. The last revision took 14 years, which did help, but more can be done. Lastly, Steve addressed challenges related to water quality and setting total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for pollutants on individual streams. The state issued its 1996 list, and environmental groups sued. EPA settled with no changes to South Dakota's list, but highlighted the importance ofTMDLs. The state's 2006 list covers 147 water bodies. Clean up of point source pollution is a water quality success story, with 360 permitted point sources all meeting their limits. There is tertiary treatment (i.e., ammonia removal) at most all major municipal wastewater treatment plants. Nonpoint source TMDLs address high nutrients phosphorous and nitrates loading to lakes, as well as high sedimentation. Highly erodible soils also mean high fecal coliform bacteria levels caused by people, livestock, pets, wildlife and waterfowl. Steve showed a slide ofTMDL project coverage across the state. Solutions to water quality problems involve: (1) site specific standards to better reflect natural conditions; (2) using all available funding - State Water & Environment Fund money, EPA Section 319 4 .