Western States Water Council 2001 Report

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perspective, drawing on a case study from the Park City area. A representative from EPA's Office of Water, Len Fleckenstein, also offered some observations, and later discussed developments from EPA headquarters. Jack Barnett, Executive Director of the Colorado River Salinity Control Forum, also addressed the Committee, describing the situation of increasing concentrations of selenium in the river. The Committee then heard updates from the subcommittee working on tribal water quality administration issues under Section 518 of the Clean Water Act, and the status of another subcommittee's efforts to address water quality standards for effluent dependant and dominated waters. After receiving a report on actions taken at the Western Governors' Association Annual meeting, the Committee approved a resolution endorsing specified WGA resolutions. The Committee had earlier forwarded to the WGA recommendations related to CWA reauthorization and/or amendments. The Committee concluded with a brief discussion on improving process and participation. The Executive Committee met to review the budget and related matters, to hear a report on the priorities of new WGA Chair, Governor Napolitano of Arizona, and to review positions scheduled to sunset. The Committee recommended that the positions be allowed to sunset, with the exception of the resolution opposing repeal of current national plumbing efficiency standards. The Legal Committee met in the afternoon. Following a report on current legal issues in Washington by Alison Bond, the meeting featured a discussion on state general adjudications. Reports on state initiatives were given from representatives of Montana, Oregon, New Mexico and Idaho. The presentations reflected on the complexity and expense of these proceedings, but also on their utility and the fact that progress was being made in concluding them. Recommendations and lessons learned were shared. Maria O'Brien, of New Mexico, next updated the Committee on the progress of collaborative efforts to reach solutions to the complex problems in the Middle Rio Grande. Susan Cottingham then reported on the outlook for Indian water rights settlements. Although new to the Council, Susan has long been associated with the Ad Hoc Group on Indian Water Rights as head of the Montana Reserved Rights Compact Commission, and as such underscored the increasing difficulties that negotiations are facing. She encouraged involvement in the upcoming symposium on settlements sponsored by the WSWC and the Native American Rights Fund, for September 14 -16, in Moscow, Idaho. On Friday, Jay Manning, Director of the Washington Department of Ecology, addressed the Council, describing some of the current issues and challenges in the State. In the process, he described the state -wide watershed planning program started some years ago. The results were mixed among the numerous watersheds in the State, but where the major stakeholders had stayed involved, including the tribes, successful outcomes had been achieved. John Keys, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner, next addressed the Council. He described the budget for the Bureau, its priorities, and the status of the 2025 initiative. He expressed confidence that the 2025 initiative would proceed, although funding would still be limited, pointing to the ability to leverage appropriated amounts through the Challenge Grant Program. He also said the BOR would continue to support the Bridging- the - Headgate partnership. Brigadier General Joseph Schroedel, Commander of the South Pacific Division of the Corps of Engineers, followed. He emphasized the Corps' reorientation to an agency to serve its customers' priorities. He had visited with several water organizations during his tenure and said that the Council was the ideal organization to which the Corps could look for priorities. He encouraged the Council to think in these terms and recommended formation of a federal subcommittee made up of representatives of all the relevant federal agencies to meet regularly with the Council for this purpose. 21