BOARD02414

• Board Meeting Date: 9/25/2000
• Description: Directors' Reports
• Board Meetings - Doc Type: Memo

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State University in 1982. Person fills the vacancy left by Jack Garner who is now Reclamation's
Associate Deputy Director, Operations-West, in Denver.

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Reclamation Drought Workshop: On Aug. 29-31 Reclamation hosted a workshop on drought
in the Great Plains in Rapid City, South Dakota. The workshop was designed to share examples of
various drought preparedness and planning processes and identify drought mitigation strategies and
tools. Reclamation Commissioner Eluid Martinez was a featured speaker. Martinez's remarks
highlighted the need for the federal government, and the states and the tribes, to invest in drought
preparedness. He added that future federal drought activities will focus on preparation and mitigation as
opposed to relief. He made personal observations based on his past experiences with drought and water
management, noting that as State Engineer in New Mexico he couldn't recall any significant periods of
drought. However, since the mid-1990s, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona have experienced serious
drought impacts and discovered that there are a lot of federal programs, but not much money, nor
coordination and guidance. He recognized the efforts of the western govemors in creating a Western
Drought Coordination Council - involving states, tribes, federal agencies, and local groups - and their
support for the enactment of federal legislation that created a National Drought Policy Commission.

Martinez also discussed some immediate and long-term issues related to drought. He specifically
mentioned new demands for water for environmental purposes and endangered species in the Rio
Grande and Klamath River basins (WSW#1368-69). On the Rio Grande, some 170,000 acre-feet of
water has been set aside this year for endangered species - more than the City of Albuquerque or Middle
Rio Grande Conservancy District use each year. The hot weather has increased the demand for
hydroelectric energy in the Northwest and in California, where moving water to environmental purposes
means losing energy. He also noted upstream storage has got us through this year in many parts of the
West, but unless we get a significant snow pack this winter, water supplies next summer will be very
short. (Story from WSWC newsletter.)

Small Reclamation Projects Act: On July 25 the Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Committee held a hearing on S. 2881 to amend the Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956. Among
other things, this bill is designed to establish a new partnership between non-federal entities and
Reclamation for the construction of small water projects. The bill also expands the program to include
Indian tribes and projects specifically defined to include: (1) multi-purpose water resources development
involving the conservation of water, energy and the environment; (2) rehabilitation of existing water
infrastructure; and (3) water quality improvements involving water reuse. Priority would be given to
proposals related to presently authorized Reclamation projects. Within one year of submitting an
application, the Interior Secretary is required to determine whether the proposed project was financially
feasible and submit it with appropriate environmental documentation to Congress. The bill requires a
non-federal cost share of at least 25 percent. (Story from WSWC newsletter.)

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FY 2001 Energy and Water Appropriations Status: Following Congress's return from its
August recess it must complete work on the FY 2001 Energy and Water appropriations legislation (H.R.
4733). Passed by the House on June 27, the bill appropriates money for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers' civil works program, including $153.3 million for general investigations. The general
construction appropriation totals $1.8 billion for river and harbor, flood control, shore protection and
other work. The operation and maintenance appropriation totals another $1.8 billion.

The House appropriated $635.8 million for Reclamation's water and related resources program
for the management and development of water and other natural resources and related activities,
including the operation, maintenance and rehabilitation of reclamation facilities. Another $38.7 million
is appropriated as authorized by the Central Utah Project Completion Act for various construction,
mitigation and conservation activities. The bill earmarks $200,000 to prepare cooperative drought

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