Western States Water Council 2005 Report

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Agriculture - Farm Bill On October 17th, the House passed its version of a Farm Bill, authorizing continuing appropriations for U.S. agricultural programs (H.R. 2646). S. 1731 was introduced by Senator Tom Harkin (D -IA) on November 27, and it was quickly passed by the Senate Agriculture Committee, which he chaired. Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D -SD) said he would "press for expedited action," but strong opposition delayed action. A number of motions to close debate on S. 1731 and vote failed. The White House favored the House bill and criticized Harkin's bill as expanding government subsidies and also committing "significant funds to a new working lands program [Conservation Security Program] that does not necessarily deliver measurable, effective environmental benefits. 1128 S. 1731 included a provision (Section 215) authored by Senator Harry Reid (D -NV), with the support of Daschle and Harkin, creating a new water conservation program that authorized the Secretary of Agriculture to acquire land and water under the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) for the benefit of endangered, threatened or "sensitive" species, defined to include candidate species listed under the Endangered Species Act.29 Even before it was introduced, it was rumored the WSWC endorsed the proposal, which it had not. At the November meetings of the Council, in Wichita, Chairman Mike Brophy read a letter to be sent on his own behalf to Senator Tom Harkin (D -IA) regarding the Farm Bill and suggestions the Council had approved certain provisions. The letter stated that the Council "...has not been asked to review or take any action regarding the draft Water Conservation Additions.... From my perspective, western states are not opposed to initiatives... to develop and implement partnership arrangements with individual states, in accordance with the laws of those states, to address demonstrated water quantity or water quality requirements for species listed under the Endangered Species Act. However, I believe it is highly unlikely that the ... Council would support the... Additions as drafted, which propose ... the temporary transfer or permanent acquisition of water rights by the ...Department of Agriculture for lands enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program.... [T]he goal ... can be largely achieved under existing state laws. Therefore, I see no need for the Water Conservation Additions.... "30 The proposal raised considerable controversy among many western state water and farming interests. The WSWC's Executive Committee debated the merits of the proposal, but could not reach any consensus and did not take a position on the bill. Under the proposal, lands would be eligible for CRP enrollment, "...which will further the conservation of threatened and endangered species, or species which may become threatened or endangered if actions are not taken to conserve that species, and the habitat of such species." It directed the Secretary to "...establish, and carry out the enrollment of eligible land ... through the use "Western States Water, Issue #1438, December 7, 2001. 21 Western States Water, Issue #1439, Special Report, December 14, 2001. 31 Western States Water, Issue #1435, November 19, 2001. 36