WSW Issue #1689 September 29 2006 Dam Saftey

• Description: WSW Issue #1689 September 29 2006 Dam Saftey
• State: CO
• Date: 9/29/2006
• Title: WSW Issue #1689 September 29 2006 Dam Saftey
• Water Supply Pro - Doc Type: Litigation

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water and fire - fighting assets to reduce the likelihood of devastating fires, and waterway managers can alter water
releases and dredging activities to maintain open waterways and allow barge and shipping traffic to pass.
Managers of animal stocks can budget for increased feed costs and can sell excess stock early when prices are
still high, and energy providers can manage reservoir and fuel levels to minimize electricity costs due to reduced
hydropower capacity."
On September 27, the Senate Commerce Committee unanimously approved S. 2751, without
amendment. Introduced by Senator Ben Nelson (D -NE), it is nearly identical companion legislation to H.R. 5136.
A Commerce Committee press release says, "The National Integrated Drought Information System Act of 2006
will create a drought early warning system that would maintain a web -based information clearinghouse, provide
drought monitoring, prepare the weekly U.S. Drought Monitor (which covers all 50 states), and develop drought
policy and planning techniques. The goal of the legislation is to create a drought information system that will
coordinate information on drought. The research done up -front in monitoring drought trends will help mitigate and
improve response to the effect of drought and implementing a risk management type strategy will save taxpayers
billions in reduced disaster assistance in the future." NIDIS would be incorporated into the Global Earth
Observation System of Systems. The Senate bill authorizes funding of $8M -$11 M annually through fiscal year
2012. It awaits consideration by the full Senate.
Water Resources Development Act
With yet a few remaining unresolved issues, House /Senate conferees will return in November intent on
passing the first Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) authorization for Army Corps of Engineers' projects
and programs since 2000. "We made a great deal of progress and there was a lot of good faith compromise and
negotiation involved," said Rep. Don Young (R -AK), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee. "We just ran out of time. But we're all committed to completing a comprehensive WRDA bill when we
return after the November elections. In the meantime, we've instructed our staffs to continue to meet throughout
the recess to address many of the unresolved issues."
Rep. John Duncan (R -TN), Chairman of the Water Resources... .and Environment Subcommittee, said, "It is
better to do a conference bill well, than to do it quickly This bill will authorize projects that are investments in
hat
America. These are navigation projects t keep our.((ports and "terways open to commercial traffic, flood
damage reduction projects that protect our homes an busine es, and environmental restoration projects that
enhance our quality of life."
Senator James Inhofe (R -OK), Chairman of &re Environment and Public Works Committee, added,
"Everyone involved knew we faced a limited time frame and worked tirelessly to pass WRDA before the end of the
month, but a few issues just could not be resolved in time. I look forward to returning in November to work with my
colleagues to pass WRDA as soon as possible. A WRDA bill is long overdue and I have every intention of
completing the bill this year." Senator Christopher "Kit" Bond (R -MO), Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure Chair, observed, "Both members and staff on the conference committee have worked very hard to
accomplish a difficult task. We have made tremendous progress, we just need a little more time." The bill
authorizes spending for scores of western projects, and under General Provisions, refines Corps planning
processes (WSW #1673).
Water Resources Research Act
On September 25, the House passed H.R. 4588, the Water Resources Research Act Amendments of
2006, introduced by Rep. John Doolittle (R -CA) to reauthoriz applied research grants and funding for the
Nation's Water Resources Research Institutes. S. 101 milar bill, passed the Senate last year on September
17.
WATER RESOURCESMATER QUALITY
Hydromodification /Nonpoint Source Pollution
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is requesting comment on draft technical guidance for
managing nonpoint source pollution (NPS) from hydromodification. The term hydromodification means an activity
that alters the geometry and physical characteristics of a stream or river in such a way that the flow patterns
http: / /www.westgov.org/wswc /news /1689.html 10/24/2006