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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Water Transfers: The WSWC has reported that the Westland Water District in California has <br />proposed that farmers in the San Joaquin Valiey stop irrigating 150,000 to 250,000 acres in . <br />exchange for a $500 million federal buyout. The action was taken because in 1986 Reclamation <br />closed the San Luis Drain, after damage to fish and water flow in Kesterson Reservoir. The <br />federal government is estimated to have expended some $200 million in the intervening years to <br />address the drainage problem. Owners of some 45,000 acres in Westland have sued the BOR for <br />failure to fulfill its contract to provide drainage for the district. It's estimated that it would take <br />$600 million to complete the San Luis Drain today. Only willing sellers would be involved in the <br />retirement program, according to Westland officials. <br /> <br />Farmers in Idaho are being asked to submit bids on how much money it would take for them to <br />turn off their pumps to conserve power. Idaho Power is required to report to the Commission on <br />the bids no iater than March 9. <br /> <br />NWRA: The National Water Resources Association (NWRA) has elected new officers. David <br />A. Sprynczynatyk of North Dakota, Jolm Sullivan of Arizona and Norman Semanko ofIdaho are <br />now the President, Vice-President and Treasurer respectively. <br /> <br />Jolm Sullivan has been a Salt River Project Associate General Manager for the Water Group <br />since May of 1994. Norm Semanko, also a member of the WSWC, is Director and General <br />Counsel to the Idaho Water Users Association. He formerly practiced water law in Idaho and <br />served as a staff member to Senator Larry Craig (R-m). <br /> <br />New EP A Leadership: Following the selection of Governor Whitman to be the new EP A <br />Administrator, several other people have been appointed: <br /> <br />. Tina Kreisher will be the Associate Administrator for Communications, Education and <br />Media Relations. Kreisher was formerly the Communications Director to the U.S. Senate <br />Energy and Natural Resources Committee. <br /> <br />. Thomas J. Gibson will be the counselor to EPA Administrator and the Associate <br />Administrator for Policy, Economics and Innovation. Since 1995 he has served as the <br />Majority Deputy Staff Director and Counsel for the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment <br />and Public Works. <br /> <br />. Edward D. Krenik will be EP A's new Associate Administrator for Congressional and <br />Intergovenunental Affairs. Since 1995 he was the Legisiative Staff Director/Appropriations <br />Staff Associate for Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen. <br /> <br />Corps of Engineers Coordination Employee: Staff participated on an interview panel in <br />Albuquerque on Jan. 9. The Corps is selecting a candidate to act as a federal/state liaison. An <br />employee ranking list was prepared for the six candidates and the Corps is in the process of <br />selecting the best candidate to hire. The new employee is scheduled to start in April of2001. <br /> <br />Statewide Issues <br /> <br />Director Meetings: Since our last meeting I have attended several important events and <br />meetings that have given me a chance to get acquainted with a wide variety of statewide water <br />interests. Those meetings have included: meetings with the State Parks and DOW Directors to <br />discuss common interests; the Douglas County Leadership Forum; an Action 22 meeting, an <br />American Water Works Association meeting, a Southeastern Water Conservancy District <br />5 <br /> <br />,.:. <br />