WSP00777 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

OJ2987 In 1995, we went back to the subject of negotiated Indian water right settlements in the form of a symposium cosponsored by the Native American Rights Fund. The 1996 meeting addressed federal and state programs/approaches to deal with non-point source pollution. Given the continued interest by previous attendees and also anticipated activities by the WGA within the context of the Ad Hoc Group on Indian Water Rights, and the fact that the Native American Rights Fund had expressed its interest in cosponsoring another symposium, the Council determined to hold another symposium on Indian water rights in 1997. In 1998, the symposium was devoted to the subject of improving implementation of the Endangered Species Act. In 1999, the Council determined to share experiences regarding implementation of state watershed strategies, but subsequently decided to combine this activity with a workshop cosponsored by the WGA on TMDL implementation. The Council also held another cosponsored symposium on negotiated Indian water right settlements. From the latter emerged a consensus behind a funding mechanism to assure settlement funding, once the settlement has been approved by the Congress and the President. In 2000, the symposium subject was on protecting water quality under state water law. The workshop format facilitated open discussion among both state water rights and water quality administrators and others and produced a list of recommendations for consideration by each member state. Consistent with reccnt practices, and the consensus among members of the Ad Hoc Group on Indian Water Rights, the Council held another symposium with the Native American Rights Fund on settlements in 2001 under the auspices of the Legal Committee. The following is a staff option for the 2002 symposium/workshop for consideration. Others may be more appropriate. The symposium would be organized under the auspices of the Water Resources Committee, primarily under the direction of its water use efficiency subcommittee. WATER CONSERVATION WORKSHOP Work to date: The Council has a long history of promoting water conservation. Demands on western water supplies continue to grow, along with the population, coupled with the recognition and value placed on instream ecological needs, highlighting the importance of efficient use for all purposes. Agricultural water use accounts for about 80 % of the diversions in the West, and an increasing number of transfers are taking place between agriculture and other uses. Municipal water use and conservation are increasingly important, given the growth of major western urban centers. There are increasing incentives, public and private, federal and state, for improving water use efficiency. Moreover, states and water management agencies are redefining reasonable and beneficial uses. In July 2000, the Council cosponsored, together with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and Wyoming State Engineer's Office, a workshop/symposia focused on state of the art agricultural water conservation practices and governmental policies and programs to promote efficient uses. The meeting was held in Casper, and a summary of the discussions was prepared and distributed to participants. It was suggested this should be a biannual event. 2002: Under the direction of the Water Resources Committee, the Council will sponsor, together with the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, USDA's Natural Resources Conservation Service (and perhaps the Environmental Protection Agency and others), a workshop/symposia focused on state of the art agricultural and municipal water conservation practices and governmental policies and programs to promote efficient uses. 2