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<br />Wyoming Attorney General Joseph Meyer says
<br />that it is far too early to say what Wyoming's position
<br />will be when the Special Master's report is taken up
<br />by the Supreme Court. However, ....we will urge the
<br />Supreme Court to rule on several issues without
<br />further trial. One of those issues has to be whether
<br />the Deer Creek Project can proceed. I think the court
<br />will recognize that Nebraska has never been afforded
<br />a right to stop a municipal water project.' Attorney
<br />General Meyer indicated that Wyoming must continue
<br />to prepare for trial in light of Special Master Olpin's
<br />draft report. He said, 'We will continue our effort to
<br />obtain rulings that would lessen costs, but we must
<br />be prepared to proceed to trial if those efforts fail.'
<br />
<br />WATER RESOURCES
<br />
<br />Bureau of Rectamation - Strategic Plan
<br />
<br />Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan recently approved
<br />the Bureau of Reclamation's Strategic Plan, which will
<br />be released soon. The plan builds upon earlier work
<br />and sets forth a broad, long-term framework for
<br />resource management, development, and protection
<br />rNSW #698), It consists of twenty five program
<br />elements, each with a guiding principle and specific
<br />goals and strategies, Program elements are grouped
<br />into five sections: (1) managing and developing
<br />resources; (2) protecting the environment; (3)
<br />safeguarding the investment; (4) building
<br />partnerships; and (5) fostering quality management.
<br />
<br />The Bureau will develop shorter term 10-year
<br />implementation plans for each program element that
<br />detail 'how' Reclamation will get 'where' it wants to
<br />be in the future by setting forth specific tasks and
<br />priorities, and estimating fiscal and personnel
<br />resource requirements. These implementation plans
<br />will be used by the Washington, Denver, regiona~and
<br />field offices to develop action plans and initiatives.
<br />An annual program evaluation will cover performance,
<br />accomplishments and effectiveness, and provide
<br />policy guidance and establish priorities for budget
<br />and funding requests in the annual congressionai
<br />appropriations process.
<br />
<br />The Bureau's first implementation plan, entitled
<br />'Hvdropower 2000,' was released on January 22, by
<br />Interior Secretary Manuel Lujan and Deputy Energy
<br />Secretary Henson Moore at a special ceremony at
<br />Hoover Dam rNSW 923).
<br />
<br />WATER RIGHTS
<br />
<br />Indian Water Rights
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />On February 26, the Senate Select Committee on
<br />Indian Affairs reported S. 1602, to ratify a 1985
<br />reserved water rights compact between the
<br />Assiniboine and Sioux tribes of the Fort Peck
<br />Reservation and the state of Montana rNSW #918).
<br />The Fort Peck Indian Tribes - Montana Compact Act
<br />specifically authorizes the tribe to execute water
<br />marketing agreements, subject to the approval of the
<br />Secretary of the Interior and all terms of the compact.
<br />The tribes may enter into a joint venture, service
<br />contract, lease, exchange or other water agreement
<br />for the 'delivery, use or transfer of any part of the
<br />water rights confirmed in the tribes...for a specnied
<br />term, not to exceed fifty years, inclusive of all
<br />renewals; or the diversion or use of water within or
<br />outside the reservation.' The Secretary is required to
<br />approve or disapprove any agreement within 180
<br />days, and this provision may be enforced by any
<br />party to a water agreement. Of note, any Information
<br />relating to a financial benefit accruing to the tribes or
<br />any projection, study, data or other information
<br />relating to the terms and conditions of an agreement
<br />are to be treated by Interior as privileged, proprietary
<br />information of the tribes.
<br />
<br />.
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />Dave Walker, Director of the Colorado Water
<br />Conservation Board, and Jeris Danielson, Colorado
<br />State Engineer, have been forced to resign from their
<br />respective positions by Natural Resources Director
<br />Ken Salazar and Colorado Governor Roy Romer.
<br />According to reports in Colorado papers, Danielson
<br />and Walker 'were pushed out because they did not
<br />get along, and because Danielson had undermined
<br />Colorado's position with other states on use of the
<br />Colorado River.' Both have denied these allegations,
<br />but have accepted as a settlement a total of $143,000
<br />in severance payments. Both were long time state
<br />officials. Danielson worked for Colorado for 22 years,
<br />and Walker for more than 20, Both are members of
<br />the Western States Water Council. Jeris has
<br />represented Colorado since 1980, and Dave was
<br />appointed by Governor Romer In 1990. Danielson
<br />says he plans to start a water consulting firm, while
<br />Walker is reviewing his options. (Denver Post, 2118/92
<br />and 3/3/92).
<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.
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