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<br />creates a CVP Fish and Wildlife Advisory Committee,
<br />co-chaired by the Secretary of Interior and the
<br />Governor of California, or their designees. W~hln five
<br />years, the committee Is to provide recommendations
<br />to Congress regarding hab~at restoration, W~hin ten
<br />years the Secretary is to deliver a full dependable
<br />water supply to the national wildlife refuge system.
<br />
<br />W~h respect to anadromous fish, the goal is to
<br />double average levels of natural production by 2002,
<br />The bill authorizes various structural and non.
<br />structural measures, including fish screens and
<br />recovery facil~ies, temperature control devices, and
<br />fish passage facil~ies. Generally, California will pay
<br />25% of these costs, w~h half the remaining federal
<br />expend~ure considered reimbursable as a project
<br />feature. A fish and wildlife water acquis~lons program
<br />will utilize, in order of priority, Improved CVP
<br />operations, conservation, water transfers, conjunctive
<br />use, water purchases, the purchase and idling of
<br />agrlcuttural land and, as a last resort, reductions in
<br />delivery to CVP contractors.
<br />
<br />New Mexico
<br />The New Mexico legislature has approved funding
<br />for acquis~ion of water rights in the Pecos River Basin
<br />as part of a plan to assure continued compliance w~h
<br />~s water delivery obligations to Texas under the
<br />Pecos River Compact, New Mexico previously paid
<br />Texas $14M for compact shortages from 1950-1986.
<br />By order of the U,S, Supreme Court, however, New
<br />Mexico must meet future compact obligations in water
<br />deliveries, not dollars. Under State Engineer Eluld
<br />Martinez's plan, New Mexico will allocate money to
<br />pay ~s farmers to stop Irrigating to assure sufficient
<br />water will remain In the river to meet compact
<br />requirements. The state will need about $26M to
<br />Implement the plan, which also includes water use
<br />efficiency/conservation projects.
<br />
<br />The New Mexico legislature appropriated $3M from
<br />the Issuance of severance tax bonds, and $3M from
<br />general obligation bonds pending voter approval, to
<br />acquire Pecos River Basin water rights, The plan
<br />requires some $4.5M annually for six years. If voters
<br />fail to approve the general obligation bonds, and the
<br />annual appropriation of $3M based on severance tax
<br />bonds remains constant, tt could take nine years for
<br />the water rights retirement plan to be completed,
<br />'making the success of the...program less certain,'
<br />according to the State Engineer. The atternatlve Is to
<br />withhold water from irrigators In future dry years.
<br />
<br />The New Mexico legislature funded a study on the
<br />feasibility and environmental Impact of cleaning and
<br />deepening the channel of the Rio Grande between
<br />Albuquerque and Elephant Butte Reservoir. Further,
<br />the New Mexico House passed a memorial requesting
<br />the State Engineer to review water use fees employed
<br />In some other western states to fund water projects,
<br />and to make a recommendation for the possible
<br />implementation of a water use fee in New Mexico,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />MEETlNGS
<br />
<br />Enclosed wtth this newsletter is a brochure
<br />announcing a 3-day symposium cosponsored by the
<br />Native American Rights Fund and the Western States
<br />Water Council on the settlement of Indian Reserved
<br />Water Rights Claims, to be held September 1-3, in
<br />Albuquerque, Please mark your calendars,
<br />Registration materials will be available soon.
<br />
<br />The Western States Water Council's 107th
<br />quarterly meetings will be held In Satt Lake City, Utah
<br />on July 8-10 at the Satt Lake City Marriott, For room
<br />reservations call (801) 531-0800 before June 26 and
<br />indicate you are attending Council meetings. Major
<br />agenda ttems will Include state assumption of greater
<br />responsibility under the Clean Water Act Section 404
<br />program (wtth the discussion led by Glenn Eugster,
<br />EPA Offlce of Wetlands Strategy), third party effects
<br />of water right transfers (including participation of Law
<br />Professor Dan Tarlock), and national energy and
<br />water policy. The state of Utah has scheduled a field
<br />trip to the Jordanelle Dam stte on July 8.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Schedule of Meetings
<br />
<br />Wednesdav, Julv 8
<br />Jordanelle Dam Field Trip
<br />FERC Subcommittee
<br />
<br />1 :00 p,m.
<br />8:00 p.m.
<br />
<br />Thursdav. Julv 9
<br />Water Policy Seminar Subcom.
<br />Water Resources Committee
<br />Legal Committee
<br />Executive Committee
<br />Water Quality Committee
<br />Social Hour
<br />Tabernacle Choir Rehearsal
<br />
<br />7:00 a.m,
<br />8:00 a.m.
<br />10:00 a.m.
<br />1 :30 p.m.
<br />2:30 p,m,
<br />6:00 p,m,
<br />8:00 p,m,
<br />
<br />Fridav, Julv 10
<br />107th Quarterly Meeting
<br />
<br />8:30 a.m,
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors
<br />of member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North
<br />Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, with Oklahoma as an associate member
<br />state.
<br />
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