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<br />Title I of the Reclamation States Emergency
<br />Drought Relief Act provides broad authority for the
<br />Secretary of Interior to use federal reclamation
<br />facilities and resources to address western water
<br />supply problems. Section 104 requires: 'The
<br />programs and authorities established under this title
<br />shall become operative in any Reclamation State only
<br />after the Governor..,has made a request for temporary
<br />drought assistance, and the Secretary has determined
<br />that such temporary assistance is merited....' Before
<br />the Act was signed by the President ry.ISW #927),
<br />California Governor Pete Wilson wrote Interior
<br />Secretary Manuel Lujan, 'As you are aware, California
<br />has long awaited the final passage of...H.R. 355. In
<br />anticipation of the President's signature of the
<br />measure, I formally request...temporary drought
<br />assistance for the State of California. The assistance
<br />provided in the emergency measure will surely
<br />enhance our efforts to minimize losses and damages
<br />resulting from what is now California's sixth
<br />consecutive drought year.' On April 20, Secretary
<br />Lujan replied, noting that assistance to California was
<br />merited, and saying, 'I have directed the Bureau of
<br />Reclamation to expedite its actions in the
<br />implementation of this assistance to the state.' On
<br />April 15, Nevada Governor Bob Miller wrote the
<br />Secretary requesting federal drought assistance under
<br />the Drought Relief Act 'to solve the problems posed
<br />by drought conditions,' His request was also
<br />approved.
<br />
<br />Among other things, the Act authorizes creation
<br />of water banks to facilitate transfers among users and
<br />between uses. Idaho has operated a water bank
<br />program for many years. Recently, steps were taken
<br />to allow the rental of storage water from established
<br />Idaho banks for use outside the state to augment
<br />lower Snake River flows and aid migrating salmon
<br />ry.ISW #937). Faced with all-time record low supplies
<br />because of the continuing drought, however, no water
<br />is available for rental in the Boise and Upper Snake
<br />River systems, The Upper Snake River water bank
<br />has already received requests for 125,000 acre-feet of
<br />water for irrigation, When water is available, the water
<br />banks allow temporary transfers between users at a
<br />fixed rate. Previous transfers have been between
<br />agricultural uses, Next month, Upper Snake river
<br />water users will meet to determine whether there is
<br />any interest in transferring agricultural water to meet
<br />fish and wildlife needs, To date, no municipal water
<br />supply shortages are expected, although the drought
<br />
<br />has affected individual wells, Also as a result
<br />of the drought, on May 15, the Idaho Department of
<br />Water Resources declared a moratorium on all new
<br />uses in the Snake, Bear, Salmon and Clearwater River
<br />systems. Existing users will be allowed to develop
<br />water to replace previously available supplies, but no
<br />new uses will be permitted.
<br />
<br />..
<br />
<br />PUBUCA1l0NS
<br />
<br />'Reconciling Conflicts Under the Endangered
<br />Species Act: The Habitat Conservation Planning
<br />Experience' published by the World Wildlife Fund
<br />(1991). The work concludes 'We are convinced that
<br />the recommendations outlined in this report can help
<br />assure that [habitat conservation plans] become an
<br />effective tool for reconciling development with the
<br />conservation of endangered species.' To order
<br />contact WWF publications, P.O. Box 4866, Hempden
<br />Post Office, Baltimore, MD 21211, (301) 338-6951.
<br />
<br />'The Brownell Task Force and the Mexican Salinity
<br />PrOblem: A Narrative Chronology of Events,'
<br />submitted to the Colorado River Basin Salinity Control
<br />Forum (CRBSCF), 106 West 500 South, Suite 101,
<br />Bountiful, UT 84010, written by Anne DeMarsay of
<br />Carmarthen Communications (September, 1991). To
<br />order contact CRBSCF at (801) 292-4663.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />MEEllNGS
<br />
<br />The ABA Section on Natural Resources will
<br />sponsor its Seventh Annual Conference on Wetlands
<br />Law and Regulation June 3-4 in Washington, D.C.
<br />For information call (312) 988-5577.
<br />
<br />The Natural Resources Law Center at the
<br />University of Colorado Law School will offer a three-
<br />day conference June 15-17, 1992, on 'Uncovering the
<br />Hidden Resource: Ground Water Law, Hydrology, and
<br />Policy in the 1990's.' For information call Katherine
<br />Taylor (303) 492-1288,
<br />
<br />POSmON OPENING
<br />
<br />The Montana Department of Natural Resources
<br />and Conservation (MDNRC) seeks a Water Well
<br />Program Manager #58000 in Helena to perform
<br />technical and administrative duties for the State Board
<br />of Water Well Contractors. Salary: $21,674, plus
<br />excellent benefits. Contact MDNRC (406) 444-6873.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors .
<br />of member states - Alaska, Arizona, Califomia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North '
<br />Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, with Oklahoma as an 'I"SfV'iate member
<br />state.
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