Western States Water Council 2005 Report

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There is a significant need for the federal government to maintain and rehabilitate its existing water storage infrastructure, and to work with states and others in providing reliable water data. In particular, as Congress considers the budget, we urge it to recognize the serious need for adequate and consistent federal funding to maintain, restore, modernize, and provide for targeted expansion and USGS's of NWCC's SNOTEL System and Soil and l Program, with a primary focus Cooperative Streamgaging Program and National Stream Information on coordinated data collection and dissemination. I have appended a position recently adopted by the Council explaining the western states' position in support of these programs. Finally, I wish to reiterate the importance of the long -held Congressional policy of deference to states regarding water management. States are moving to address the challenges they face in water resources. Federal preemption of state authority is not the way to address the complex challenges associated with water management in the West. Rather, what is necessary is encouraging partnerships between the state and federal agencies in the development and implementation of key policies, supporting the pivotal role states must play in addressing these challenges, and affording flexibility for ongoing innovation at the state level in order to effectively carry out this role. Thank you. Water Information Management Systems Workshop The Nevada Department of Conservation and Natural Resources hosted the WSWC's annual Water Information Management Systems Workshop in Reno, Nevada on July 24 -26th. Representatives from twelve states discussed information management needs and challenges, involving water rights and water use mapping and imaging, computing evapotranspiration, reporting consumptive uses and losses, decision support systems, implementing water quality standards, managing ground water resources and databases, and modeling water availability. Technical presentations also addressed software and hardware issues, applications and alternatives, as well as database migration issues. Several states demonstrated uses of the internet to deliver state services and allow for greater interaction with users. Lastly, attendees discussed activities of the Federal Advisory Committee on Water Information (ACWI), the U.S. Geological Survey's National Stream - gaging Information Program (NSIP), cooperative state /federal streamgaging activities, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service's snow survey and water supply forecasting program. Symposia on Endangered Species and Water Law in the West The Southwest Albuquerque, New Mexico The New Mexico State Engineer's Office and New Mexico Interstate Streams Commission hosted the Albuquerque symposium, June 27 -29th. Eluid Martinez, former Commissioner of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, former New Mexico State Engineer, and a former member of the Western States Water Council was a featured speaker. He questioned the intent of the Congress with respect to ESA and any priority over other laws, but recognized we now have to deal with it. As Commissioner he was responsible for Section 7 consultations over federal project operations. While