Laserfiche WebLink
<br />OJ2939 <br /> <br />WATER RESOURCES cOMMITIEE <br />WORK PLAN <br />2002 <br /> <br />1. USGS COOPERATIVE STREAM GAGING/NRCS SNOW SURVEY PROGRAMS <br /> <br />Work to Date: The Council has consistently supported the cooperative federal/state streamgaging and snow <br />survey programs, and urged the Congress to appropriate sufficient money to maintain these systems. With <br />respect to USGS this includes funding to restore 50%-50% matching grants. As program costs have <br />increased, western states have urged USGS to focus on basic data collection, as opposed to analysis and <br />modeling studies. The Council has joined USGS in listening sessions designed to help USGS improve the <br />program, and WSWC staff have reviewed the recent internal USGS program evaluation. Further, WSWC <br />member states have actively participated individually in the program and its review. More recently, <br />WSWC Chairman Mike Brophy and staff met with NRCS and USGS officials to express concern over a <br />lack of funding and the loss or potential loss of vital data needed for water supply forecasting. <br /> <br />2002: The WSWC will continue to represent states' interests in maintaining and restoring a viable and <br />useful network for gathering basic water data and information before the Administration and the Congress. <br />The Council will pursue opportunities to provide further support for increasing funding for USGS <br />cooperative stream gaging and NRCS snow survey programs. Relevant information will be communicated <br />to the Congress and Administration. Moreover, the Committee will provide a forum for the discussion and <br />comment on proposed work by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) on the national water resources <br />research program, and the USGS assessment of National Water Availability and Use. The Council will <br />continue to participate as a member of the federal Advisory Committee on Water Information. <br /> <br />Subconunittee: Mike Brophy (AZ); Hal Simpson (CO); Karl Dreher (10); Dave Pope (l(S); Jack Stults <br />(MT); Roger Patterson (NE); Paul Cleary and Barry Norris (OR): Craig Pedersen, Yujuin Yang and <br />Barney Austin (TX); Larry Anderson (UT); and Sue Lowry (WY) <br /> <br />Estimated Work Days: 12 <br /> <br />Time Frame: January - May 200] and beyond <br /> <br />2. WATER FOR ENDANGERED SPECIES WORKSHOP <br /> <br />Work to date:]n 1994 and again in ]998, the Council has sponsored two general workshops that focused <br />on ways to improve implementation of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) as it related to western water <br />management. The] 998 discussions were summarized and distributed. Since then ESA concerns and <br />considerations have multiplied westwide. In 200], the Council reviewed the impact of the ESA on water <br />resources management in the Southwest and Northwest, with workshops in Albuquerque and Seattle. <br />Future prospects for ESA reauthorization in this Congress are uncertain, but conflicts continue, highlighted <br />by the Klamath Basin and Tulare Lake c'ases. The courts may redefine ESA responsibilities, as it relates <br />to water and private property rights in general. Should the Congress chose to address ESA reauthorization <br />hearings are likely and water will be a key issue. The Council may be called on to testify at hearings, and <br />could present a broad overview of the impact of the ESA on the exercise and administration of state water <br />