PUB00147 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

. . . Western States Water Council Full Council Minutes Sioux Falls, South Dakota May 4, 2007 complex climate variability and change issues and the water-related impacts, which are of concern to water managers and administrators at the regional level. B. Executive Committee -Garland Erbele reported that the Committee had evaluated membership dues and the need for an increase. Dues have remained at a $25,000/state level for a period of ten years. Three options for an increase were discussed, and it was determined to raise the FY 2008 dues to $30,000 with the understanding that if necessary this action could be reevaluated at the Spring 2008 Council meetings. The Committee considered two sunsetting positions (#258 and #259), and recommended further Council action. It was moved and approved that the Council reiterate its views on H.R. 135, the Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act, which was reintroduced in this Congress (with the same bill number) by Rep. John Linder (R-GA). The House has twice passed the legislation, but no significant action has been taken in the Senate. A letter from the Council will be sent which reads in part, given that it has been A... time since a comprehensive study of the available water supplies and the future water needs of the United States has been undertaken...a study, such as that proposed in H.R. 135, could be of substantial benefit to the West.... If such a commission is to be successful, it will be important that it represent the diverse interests that exist." The Committee also recommended and the Council approved a revised and updated position in the form of a letter to express appreciation to Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM) and Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), the past and present chairs of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committees, for their efforts in securing passage in the last Congress of the Rural Water Supply Act of 2006 (S.895). The legislation authorizes an assessment of rural water supply needs, potential projects and programs to meet those needs, and authorizes federal loan guarantees to help enable Reclamation project sponsors to obtain private financing for necessary, extraordinary operation and maintenance, rehabilitation and replacement costs. C. Legal Committee - Bill Staudenmaier reported that the Legal Committee had discussed and proposed revisions to an existing policy resolution of the Western Governors' Association (WGA) on Indian water rights settlements. The Committee suggested and the Council approved recommending WGA make the proposed changes at their upcoming annual meeting in early June, while allowing for some flexibility related to additional language, if needed, to be approved by the Executive Director. STATE REPORTS Idaho Dave Tuthill, acting director of the Idaho Department of Water Resources, offered a resolution of appreciation for Karl Dreher, who has left state service. He asked if Commissioner Johnson was still here, as Idaho wants to build a dam to increase storage to deal with scarcity. He also noted Norm Semanko had updated the Legal Committee on Idaho's conjunctive management rules. He said that the conjunctive administration and adjudication of Snake River water involved 33,000 rights. Some 20,000 have yet to be finalized. All basin reports have been completed with IDWR interim administration proceeding for both ground and surface water. They have administered surface water for 100 years, but ground water rights are a recent challenge. Karl instituted a well mitigation requirement in 2005 to satisfy surface water claims. That rule was upheld in the Idaho Supreme Court. It relates to natural flows and surface storage, and was found to be constitutional on its face, but there has been no hearing yet on related matters. It is the start of a process. Also, Monday 771 warning letters about curtailment and enforcing conjunctive management were sent out. 11