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<br />in moving bulk quant~ies of water from Alaska to the
<br />southwestern states and Mexico, using marine
<br />transport. The report begins by explaining that w~h
<br />approval of the legislature in 1992, the ADWR will
<br />move forward to finalize regulations to facilitate
<br />Alaska's first bulk water sales. The report, prepared
<br />to assist those who seek to promote such sales,
<br />explains that it is not a feasibil~ study, but mentions
<br />that a number of private and public efforts are
<br />underway to examine the economic feasibll~ of the
<br />concepts presented. Further, 'based on proven
<br />marine transport technologies..., the [ADWR] believes
<br />the bulk transfer of water from Alaska to markets
<br />within the southwestern states and northern Mexico
<br />[is] economically viable.'
<br />
<br />Based on research, the report finds the most
<br />attractive water export markets are southern
<br />Calilornia, southern Nevada, and northern Mexico.
<br />The highest probabil~ for delivery points are
<br />Calilornia coastal commun~ies not directly connected
<br />to the Calilornia water project and areas in northern
<br />Mexico. The report details one possible scenario: 'If
<br />Nevada interests wished to purchase new water they
<br />could contract for a volume of water from Alaska.
<br />The actual delivery, which Nevada interests would
<br />arrange, would be to a coastal commun~ in
<br />Calilornia, allowing that community to 'transfer' ~s
<br />downstream appropriation from the Colorado River to
<br />southern Nevada in exchange for the imported
<br />Alaskan water. Nevada users pay the cost of the
<br />import, receive more water from the existing source,
<br />and the Camornia community would receive the
<br />benefit of fresh Alaska water.' Mr. Davidge plans to
<br />provide a copy of the report to Council members
<br />soon.
<br />
<br />FY93 Energy and Water Appropriations
<br />Last month the President signed H.R. 5373
<br />appropriating $22B for FY93 energy and water
<br />programs. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers general
<br />construction funding totals $1.36B, including the
<br />following western projects: AK-Bethel ($2M), Kodiak
<br />Harbor ($350,000), Sl. George Harbor ($3M); PlZ.-
<br />Clifton ($3.3M), Holbrook ($1 M), and Phoenix
<br />($9.94M); CA-Guadalupe River ($1 OM), Marysville
<br />($800,000), Merced County ($1.5M), New Melones
<br />($1M), Oakland Harbor ($3.2M), Oceanside Harbor
<br />($2.66M), Redbank and Fancher Creeks ($9.17M),
<br />Richmond Harbor ($1.33M), Sacramento River
<br />($3.08M), San Francisco Bay ($1.25M), San Luis Rey
<br />
<br />River ($16.2M), Santa Ana River ($90.8M), Santa
<br />Paula Creek ($1M), Sweetwater River ($1.12M), .
<br />Ventura Harbor ($500,000), Wildcat and San Pablo
<br />Creeks ($2M), and Yolo Basin Wetlands ($1.4M); HI-
<br />Alenaio Stream ($3.38M), Kawaihae Harbor ($1.15M),
<br />and Maalaea Harbor ($2M); NM-acequias ($2M),
<br />Alamogordo ($400,000), CocMi Lake ($1.9M), Middle
<br />Rio Grande ($400,000), and Ria Grande Floodway
<br />($6M); ND-Sheyenne River ($1.77M) and Souris River
<br />($13.1M); OK-Fry Creek ($200,000) and Mingo Creek
<br />($16M); OR-Bonneville navigation lock ($26.52M),
<br />Bonneville powerhouse ($5M), second powerhouse
<br />($3.2M), and Elk Creek Lake ($2.5M); lX-Beals Creek
<br />($500,000), Brazos Island Harbor ($5.5M), Victoria
<br />Channel ($1M), Clear Creek ($4.1M), Cooper Lake
<br />($11.1M), EI Paso ($7.3M), Freeport Harbor ($6.7M),
<br />Greens Bayou Bridge ($450,000), Joe Pool Lake
<br />($806,000), Lake Wlch~a ($3.4M), Colorado River
<br />($300,000), Ray Roberts Lake ($4M), Red River
<br />chloride control ($6M), San Rayburn Dam ($1M), San
<br />Antonio channel improvement ($7.4M), Sims Bayou
<br />($1 OM), Taylors Bayou ($1.8M), and Walllsville Lake
<br />($500,000); l1T-L~le Dell Lake ($3.34M); and WA-
<br />Chehalis River ($500,000), Chief Joseph ($2.1M),
<br />Columbia River juvenile fish migration ($47.1 M), Grays
<br />Harbor ($9.3M), Laconner ($870,000), Lower Snake
<br />River fish and wildlife compensation ($11.5M), and
<br />Mud Mountain Dam ($14.5M). Corps investigations .
<br />and planning funds total $175.8M. Operation and
<br />maintenance appropriations total $1.54B.
<br />
<br />Also, H.R. 5373 notes, 'None of the funds in this
<br />Act shall be used to identify or delineate any land as
<br />a 'water of the United States' under the Federal
<br />Manual for Identifying and Delineating Jurisdictional
<br />Wetlands that was adopted in January 1989 or any
<br />subsequent manual adopted without notice and
<br />public comment...[T]he Corps...will continue to use
<br />the...1987 Manual, as ~ has since August 17, 1991,
<br />until the final wetlands delineation manual is adopted.'
<br />The Act also directs, 'None of the funds in this Act
<br />shall be used to finalize or implement the proposed
<br />regulations to amend the fee structure for the Corps
<br />of Engineers regulatory program which were
<br />published in the Federal Register Vol. 55, No. 197,
<br />on...October 11, 1990.' The Act states further, 'None
<br />of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be used to
<br />implement the proposed rule for the Army Corps of
<br />Engineers amending regulations on 'ability to pay' (33
<br />FR part 241) published in the Federal Register Vol.
<br />56, No. 114, on...June 13,1991.'
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors .
<br />of member states - Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawai~ Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North
<br />Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma.
<br />
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