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. . . Western States Water Council Full Council Minutes Sioux Falls, South Dakota May 4, 2007 Oregon The Oregon Legislature is in session, and my budget is up for vote this morning! There is $2.5 million in new money and $1 million for water supply planning. There is a big interest in the land use and water use interface. There are issues related to development and exempt wells, as well as grandfathered land use restrictions. My family land has rights back to 1884. There is also $1 million for ground water research. Further, the Legislature may direct that 500,000 acre feet of new water rights be issued in the Columbia Basin. New Mexico Bill Hume noted that over two years they had hired 18 new watermasters, and are hiring ten more. Basin rules are nearing completion and there are eight new active management areas. The Pecos River settlement activities include acquiring water from existing uses. Some 7,500 acres have been purchased and pipelines and wellfields are complete. We can see the tape at the end of the race. There is a June 30 deadline. In the Carlsbad Irrigation District (CID) 90% of anticipated purchases are complete, with about 4,900 acres. Bill also mentioned the proposed Navajo water rights settlement, saying Mr. Bogert with the Department of Interior is engaged. Proposed federal legislation would create an Indian water rights settlement fund. New Mexico is looking for $15 million for a related pipline. Two other innovations in New Mexico include a water recycling program and formation of a consortium on saline water desalination that involves an aquifer mapping program out of New Mexico Tech University. South Dakota Garland Erbele acknowledged the leadership ofLynn Beck in organizing the meetings and field trip. He reported that he administers the state's lakes program, which is responsible for lake levels. They have a problem with three lakes; one with too much water, one with too little and one with the wrong kind of water. They have had countless meetings with lake-side land owners, who he has observed are irrational and unreasonable, in proportion to the cost of your home (irregardless of hydrology). Garland thanked everyone for coming to South Dakota FUTURE COUNCIL MEETINGS The next meetings of the Council will be held in Bozeman, Montana on August 8-10th. OTHER MATTERS There being no other matters, the meeting was adjourned. 15