PUB00024

• Year: 1998
• Title: Water in the West: Challenge for the Next Century
• CWCB Section: Interstate & Federal
• Description: Report of the Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission
• Publications - Doc Type: Tech Report

2. Recover and protect threatened and
endangered aquatic species and other species
at risk.

Water in the West: The Challenge for the Next Century

Restoration of Aquatic Ecosystems

Many aquatic systems in the American West are
degraded and must be restored if they are to be
sustainable. By "restoring" aquatic ecosystems, the
Commission does not mean returning these systems
to predisturbance or predevelopment conditions;
rather, the Commission's overall goal is to restore
the systems in order that important functions can be
recovered and benefits can be realized and sustained
over time.

The Commission notes that, in general, federal
environmental laws such as the Endangered Species
Act and the Clean Water Act have played important
roles in protecting and, in some cases, requiring the
restoration of aquatic ecosystems. While some
changes are necessary to improve the imple-
mentation of these laws, the Commission believes
these laws continue to be important in ensuring that
aquatic and other ecosystems are protected and in
setting the parameters within which locally driven
watershed initiatives operate.

No comprehensive river restoration program exists.
To date, river restoration efforts have not always
been formulated in a coordinated and prioritized
manner. Ecological risk assessment should be used
across the West to gauge where federal support is
most needed for restoration. Federal agencies
should work with states, tribes, and others to
develop and implement comprehensive project plans
which take into account social and economic factors
to:

I. Improve water quality in western waterways
to meet state water quality standards and to
support designated uses established by
states and tribes pursuant to the Clean Water
Act (such as swimming, fishing, and
support of aquatic life).

3. Specifically recognize the benefits of
conserving native species, communities, and
ecosystems; take steps to sustain native
species through activities and programs
which will maintain, restore, and enhance
instream, riparian, and upland habitat and
wetlands; and remove barriers to fish
migration, spawning, and rearing. Such
actions can potentially prevent additional
listings under the Endangered Species Act.

4. Insure sufficient instream flows to achieve
and protect the natural functions of riverine
riparian, and flood plain ecosystems. '
Provide consideration for upstream reservoir
and lake habitat.

5. Eradicate and control the spread of exotic
and non-native species and pests (e.g., zebra
mussels, purple loosestrife) as appropriate by
establishing monitoring, inspection,
eradication, and public education programs.

6. Identify and remediate contaminated sites
that are degrading aquatic ecosystems.

Water Quality

Despite progress in the quality of western water
resources, significant problems remain to be
addressed. These include: (a) nonpoint source
runoff and discharges; (b) poor integration of land
and water management; (c) inadequate management
of some specific sources of water quality
impairment; (d) inadequate water quality standards

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