BOARD01112

• Board Meeting Date: 1/24/2006
• Description: CWCB Director's Report
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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Further, it authorizes support for research and development of promising technological approaches for the
cost-effective desalination of water. The bill has bipartisan support and 27 cosponsors.

On the Senate side, S. 1016, the Desalination Water Supply Shortage Prevention Act, introduced
by Senator Mel Martinez (D-FL), has had no further action since an October 20 hearing before
the Energy and Natural Resources Committee (WSW #1641).

Reclamation Awards $1.7 Million for Desalination Research: On November 28, Bureau of
Reclamation Commissioner John Keys announced that Reclamation has awarded more than $1,7 million
for 16 desalination research cooperative agreements from Fiscal Year 2005 funding, Including the
matching contributions, the total investment in desalination research is over $6 million,

The cooperative research agreements were awarded from the FY 2005 appropriation to water utilities,
uni versities, and private companies across the country and represent a broad range of needed research in
desalination and water reuse.

All recipients, except for the universities, are required to provide at least a 50 percent cost share of their
total project proposal. Even with the universities exempted, Reclamation was able to achieve a greater
than 50 percent total cost-share for the projects.

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NEP A Task Force Issues Draft Findings and Recommendations: On December 21, after completing
seven months of public hearings around the United States, the House Task Force on Updating the
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) issued its draft findings and recommendations on improving
the Act. The findings and recommendations are open to public comment for 45 days, Following the
comment period, the Task Force will prepare a fmal report early next year.

The draft report is a collection of findings and recommendations for improving and updating NEP A,
taken directly from official public testimony and written input over the months. The Task Force will
accept additional public comments until February 3, 2006, only if they are specific to the
recommendations or findings of the report,

NWRA 2006 Leadership Seminar to Focus on ESA Solutions that Work for Water Users: The
National Water Resources Association (NWRA) convened the 2006 Leadership Seminar and
Federal Affairs Committee meeting January 5-6 at the Crowne Plaza Phoenix Airport, in Phoenix,
Arizona, NWRA has developed a program for the leadership seminar that focuses on the Endangered
Species Act (ESA) and solutions that work for water users. These solutions are designed to allow water
development to proceed in compliance with state law, interstate compacts, and the ESA without curtailing
or forfeiting water rights. The featured speaker was Renne Lohoefner, Assistant Director for Ecological
Services, V,S, Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D,C,

NWRA Resolutions and Position Statements for 2005 and 2006: The 2005 and 2006 NWRA
Resolutions and Policy Statements are available from Roberta McMillin and can be obtained from
Roberta at nncmullinlalutah.gov <mailto:nncmullinlalutah,gov> There are several resolutions and
position statements dealing with ESA, Salinity Control, Clean Water Act and Streamgaging to name a
few that Board Members may find helpful.

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Four States Irrigation Council Annual Meeting: The Four States Irrigation Council held its 53rd
Annual Meeting, on January 11-13,2006 at the Hilton Fort Collins, The theme of this meeting was
"Irrigated Agriculture: Today and Tomorrow" The Council focuses on Platte River issues in the states of
Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska and Wyoming,

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