|
<br />also changes to Arizona water law to streamline
<br />administrative processes and address relatively minor
<br />issues. Further, a number of bills addressed specific
<br />concerns, from redefining "spill water" to clarifying
<br />conditions for transferring agriculturai flexibility
<br />account credits.
<br />
<br />FY92 Energy and Water Appropriations
<br />The House introduced its FY92 Energy and Water
<br />Development Appropriations Act (H.R. 5773) on June
<br />11, The $21 B bill was approved June 17, with $826M
<br />for 96 water projects, including 16 new Corps
<br />construction starts. While funding in the House bill
<br />for the Army Corps of Engineers remained about the
<br />same as FY92, Bureau of ReClamation funding would
<br />be cut by more than 10% (House Report 102-555).
<br />Reportedly, the Senate bill provides some $681 M
<br />more than the House bill, about $414M less than the
<br />Bush Administration's request, and is within
<br />Congressional spending limits, The Senate passed
<br />its version of H.R. 5773 by unanimous consent on
<br />July 31, and named conferees on August 3, The
<br />conferees include Senators Bennett Johnston (D-LA) ,
<br />Robert Byrd (D-WV) , Ernest Hollings (D-SC), Quentin
<br />Burdick (D-ND), Jim Sasser (D-TN), Dennis DeConcini
<br />(D-AZ) , Harry Reid (D-NV) Mark Hatfield (R-OR), Jake
<br />Garn (R-UT), Thad Cochran (R-MS), Pete Domenici
<br />(R-NM), Arlen Specter (R-PA) and Don Nickies (R-OK),
<br />On the Senate floor, Senator John Seymour engaged
<br />Senators Johnston and Hatfieid in an colloquy
<br />regarding appropriations for several California
<br />projects. Seymour asked both Senators to consider
<br />receding to the Senate position, which appropriates
<br />$1.4M for fish and wildlife habitat projects involving
<br />wetlands created by rice fields, providing reliable
<br />water supplies for wildlife refuges, and continuing
<br />design work on a temperature control device at
<br />Shasta Dam to provide cold water for out migrating
<br />and spawning salmon, including endangered species.
<br />
<br />President Bush has threatened to veto the bill over
<br />a nuclear test ban provision. The House approved
<br />the moratorium by a 237-167 vote, short of the
<br />necessary two-thirds needed to override a veto. while
<br />the Senate approved a similar amendment by a 68-
<br />26 vote and apparently has enough support to
<br />override a veto. The House/Senate conference is
<br />likely to be difficuit
<br />
<br />Idaho/State Legislation
<br />In a special session, the idaho legislature provided
<br />emergency authority to the state Department of Water
<br />
<br />Resources to approve temporary changes in the point
<br />of diversion, place, and purpose of use of water. The
<br />iaw will give water right holders a shortcut around the
<br />usual 4-6 weeks required to process an application to
<br />transfer a water right It wiil require completion of a
<br />streamlined application form and payment of a $50
<br />application fee, a recommendation from the local
<br />watermaster, and approval by the Director of the
<br />Department of Water Resources. All temporary
<br />changes approved will expire November 1, 1992. The
<br />law is expected to help a number of farmers on
<br />drought stricken land.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />Utah/Stale Legislation
<br />The Utah legislature has amended the state's
<br />instream flow statute, The new law allows the Utah
<br />Division of Parks and Recreation to apply for an
<br />instream flow permit tc provide for values within the
<br />state's recreation system, Formerly, only the Division
<br />of Wildlife Resources could apply for a permit to
<br />reserve water for fisheries, Also, under the old law,
<br />legislative approval was required before any Instream
<br />flow water right could be recognized, Under the new
<br />law. legislative approval is necessary only if an
<br />appropriation of money is required to acquire rights
<br />for instream flow, A second bill was passed to
<br />streamline judicial review of state engineer decisions.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />ORGANIZATIONS
<br />
<br />American Water Resources Association (AWRA)
<br />AWRA's 1993 summer symposia will be held in
<br />Seattle. Washington on June 27-30. The association
<br />has issued a call for papers, and abstracts ,are due
<br />by August 31, 1992. The themes of the joint
<br />symposia are, "Water Resources Education: A
<br />lifetime of Learning' and "Changing Roles in Water
<br />Resources Management and Policy," The first will
<br />address educational philosophies, curriculum,
<br />teaching materials, and the like, that affect water
<br />education. The second will cover the history,
<br />challenges and implications of the changing Influence
<br />of federal, state and local governments, environmental
<br />groups, Native Americans and the public on water
<br />management and policy, A segment will also be
<br />dedicated to growth management and water
<br />resources. For more information, or to submit an
<br />abstract, contact N. Earl Spangenberg, University of
<br />Wisconsin - Stevens Point, (715) 346-2372/FAX 346-
<br />3624 (Education Symposium) or Donald F. Potts,
<br />University of Montana, (406) 243-6622/FAX 243-4510
<br />(Water Resources Management),
<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, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
|