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<br />Western States Water Council <br />Full Council Minutes <br /> <br />Sioux Falls, South Dakota <br />May 4, 2007 <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />California <br /> <br />Jeanine Jones reported on litigation in California related to Bay Delta fisheries to shut down the State <br />Water Project pumps. Long term risk management of delta facilities has raised the specter of a peripheral <br />canal. State voters approved a November referendum on $9 billion in water bonds for water and flood control <br />activities, including levee rehabilitation along 2000 stream miles in the Sacramento Delta looking a mapping, <br />elevation and geotechnical work. The Governor's 2008 request for $5.9 billion for two new off stream <br />surface storage reservoirs didn't go over well in the Democratic legislature. We're now looking at another <br />approach. The Governor's infrastructure bond proposal will go forward, with or without legislation. Climate <br />change is a very high priority, as is related water adaptation. There is a summit this fall with the Governor <br />speaking. <br /> <br />Arizona <br /> <br />Bill Staudenmaier said the Arizona Legislature is still in session and just addressing the state budget. An <br />adequate water supply bill is coming up near the end of session. Legal issues related to the Gila River Indian <br />Community Settlement are looming due to a deadline at the end ofthe year. Navajo and Hopi claims in Little <br />Colorado River seem to be making slow progress. There is also a Navajo breach of trust claim over federal <br />failure to allocate Colorado River water. Water in the Prescott area has reach a price of up to $45,000/acre- <br />foot for municipal use (enough for about 4 houses), which is way beyond agriculture's ability to pay. There . <br />is a bidding war over developable land. <br /> <br />Utah <br /> <br />Dennis Strong told a tale about greed and water. A State legislative blue ribbon task force is <br />addressing a problem of irrigators selling water that hasn't been used for years. There is 5-year non-use water <br />loss bill. Now the first municipality came in to put to use water that hasn't been used for five years, but was <br />reserved for growth. Everyone is now looking for a legislative fix. You can apply for an extension. It's dry <br />in Utah! Dennis noted that Larry Anderson is the project manager for the state on the Lake Powell pipeline. <br />The state is ready to let a $6 million contract with a consultant. Dennis also mentioned the 7-state agreement <br />on the Colorado River. Lastly, he referred members to Utah's state drought plan, which can be found at <br />http://www.water.utah.gov. <br /> <br />Washington <br /> <br />Ken Slattery reported they had a pretty good budget year. In the Spokane area, the state is doing <br />preliminary work in preparation for a general adjudication. Another initiative involves restoring Pudget <br />Sound water quality, which has deteriorated over time from development, non-point and storm water pollution <br />problems. The expectation is to address problems in tributaries. Another significant effort involves climate <br />change and collaboration with other western states. The state is making interesting and significant moves in <br />the areas of mitigation and adaptation. The Governor signed an executive order last fall, which was pretty <br />much endorsed by the Legislature. There is also a water quality and quantity task force. Further, the <br />Department of Ecology is gathering information, working with the University of Washington's Regional <br />Integrated Sciences and Assessments (RISA) Program on future runoff projections with less snow and more . <br />rain. <br /> <br />14 <br />