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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />· Tom Sansonetti, Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, <br />U.S. Department of Justice, spoke about his Division's framework for dealing with water rights <br />litigation. Of the ten sections within the division, two are devoted to water rights -- one for <br />tribal rights and the other for natural resource agencies. Seven field officers do much of the <br />work out of Denver and Sacramento. <br /> <br />· Christine Klein, Professor of Law at Michigan State University, spoke to the emerging water <br />law of the Great Lakes Basin. She noted that the Great Lakes States continue to be concerned <br />about interest in large-scale interbasin transfers from the Great Lakes to the Southwest. <br /> <br />· Panel addressing long-term implications of drought and water management. <br /> <br />· Colorado Supreme Court Justice Greg Hobbs discussed the history and evolution ofthe <br />appropriation doctrine and emphasized its continuing utility in addressing drought. A copy of <br />the paper he c1elivered is postec1 on our web site. <br /> <br />· A panel that discussed "The Endangered Species Act, State Water Law, and 'Best Science'." <br /> <br />Drought Assistance: On Feb. 20 Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman announced that a disaster <br />assistance-working group has been created to ensure timely and efficient implementation of program <br />benefits contained in the $3.1 billion disaster assistance package passed by the Congress earlier in the <br />month. This team will be instrumental in ensuring appropriate planning, coordination and <br />implementation ofthe disaster programs. See www.usda.gov, <br /> <br />Reservoir Stats: Reservoir carryover storage is down for all western states, See <br />www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov. Federal reservoirs on the Colorado River system are 61 percent full, with 68 <br />percent of average snowpack and 73 percent of average precipitation. Lake Powell is presently 54 <br />percent full. The Lake is 87 feet below its highest level, and the lowest since first filling in 1973. Lake <br />Mead c10wnstream is only 65 percent full. Still all compact water delivery requirements from the upper <br />basin to the lower basin (7.5 Mat) will be met this year, as well as treaty deliveries from the U.S. to <br />Mexico (1.5 Mat). <br /> <br />Clean Water Act/Good Samaritan: On Jan. 29, Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) re-introduced legislation, <br />HR 504, to help cleanup abandoned and inactive hard rock mines and improve water quality. H.R. 504 <br />creates a mine reclamation fee and reclamation fund. Existing hardrock mineral producers with over <br />$500,000 in gross annual revenues would pay a fee on a sliding scale to help fund cleanup of <br />abandoned hardrock mines. Up to $2 million a year would help states inventory mines for cleanup. <br /> <br />Under so-called "Good Samaritan" provisions, the bill creates a new Environmental Protection Agency <br />(EP A) permit program. Once issued a permit, the holders and cooperating parties would be shielded <br />from some, but not all, liability under the Clean Water Act, so long as they complied with the plan. <br /> <br />FERC Considering New Hydro Licensing Rules: On Feb. 4 the Federal Energy Regulatory <br />Commission issued a Notice for a Proposed rulemaking for a new hydroelectric licensing process. It <br />also announced that would host regional stakeholder workshops and drafting sessions through April 10 <br />at locations around the country, More information is available at www.ferc.gov/hvdro/hvdr02.htm. <br /> <br />A WRA Seeks National Water Policy: On Dec. 31,2002 the American Water Resources Association <br />(A WRA) sent a letter to President Bush and Congressional leaders asking them to develop "a national <br />water vision and formulate a national water policy," The letter synthesizes recommendations from a <br />September 2002 National Water Policy Dialogue convened with the support often federal agencies <br />and 25 non-federal organizations that deal with water. The letter outlines the following challenges: <br /> <br />· Drought -- we do not have enough water for forecasted long-term municipal and industrial use. <br /> <br />· Wetlands -- we are losing 70,000 to 90,000 acres ofnon-fec1eral wetlanc1 annuallyanc1 are <br />having great difficulty reducing the list of 1260 threatened or endangered plants and animals <br /> <br />9 <br />