|
<br />that draws wilderness boundaries to preserve 'areas
<br />where the earth and its community of life are
<br />untrampled by man,' while at the same time,
<br />'...protecting the most important private property right
<br />in the West, water rights.' He added, 'All wilderness
<br />areas are designated 'subject to valid existing rights.'
<br />That phrase recognizes the priority of existing land
<br />and water rights,' (CR Aug. 4, p, S10462-63)
<br />
<br />Senator Brown explained, 'To date our wilderness
<br />areas have been in the high country of the Rockies.
<br />High country reservoirs and ditch systems bring water
<br />not only to farmers, but to Colorado's growing
<br />municipalities and industries from ski areas to mining
<br />to high tech. Federal conditions on those water rights
<br />would render them valueless. Imposition of an
<br />unquantified federal reserved water right on 100 years
<br />of Colorado water law would mean economic chaos
<br />and costly takings of private property.... While water
<br />rights encompassed by Colorado wilderness bills to
<br />date are comparatively few, any future lower elevation
<br />wilderness bills unavoidably would encompass
<br />thousands of water rights....'
<br />
<br />WATER RESOURCES
<br />
<br />Western Water Policy Review Commission
<br />
<br />Elizabeth Anne Reike, Assistant Secretary of Interior
<br />for Water and Science, has written advising each
<br />western governor that the Western Water Policy
<br />Review Commission would not meet on September 8
<br />as announced. The commission's current chair,
<br />Thomas L. Sansonetti, was appointed with five other
<br />members by President Bush On January 19, 1993. On
<br />August 20, he wrote western governors and invited
<br />them to designate a representative to attend a
<br />September 8 meeting of the commission. While
<br />cancelling the meeting, Ms. Hieke noted that Interior is
<br />committed to the mission of the Commission, and to
<br />working with the states, Indian tribes, and other
<br />interested parties. However, she said, 'The last minute
<br />nature of the appointments and the importance of the
<br />commission's task led the Department of the Interior
<br />and the White House to thoroughly review [President
<br />Bush's] appointments. Both the White House and the
<br />Department agreed that the current membership does
<br />not provide an appropriate balance of background,
<br />perspective, or experience. The White House is
<br />currently reviewing candidates, and we expect that a
<br />revised commission will soon be named.'
<br />
<br />PEOPLE
<br />
<br />George Christopulos has resigned as an alternate .
<br />WSWC member representing the State of Wyoming in
<br />order to pursue retirement on a 'full-time basis.'
<br />George was first appointed as a member in 1975 and
<br />has since served with distinction. He was elected as
<br />Chairman in 1979. George retired as the Wyoming
<br />State Engineer in 1987, and we have since missed his
<br />regular association. We wish George well in
<br />retirement, and know he will enjoy pursuing other
<br />interests (fishing and football) I
<br />
<br />MEETINGS
<br />
<br />The Western States Water Council's 1121h
<br />quarterly meetings will be held on October 6-8, in
<br />Coeur d'Alene, Idaho at the Coeur d'Alene Resort.
<br />Betsy Rieke, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
<br />Water and Science will be a featured speaker on
<br />Friday. Room reservations should be made before
<br />September 15. Call (208) 765-4000. The resort will
<br />make arrangements for ground transportation from the
<br />Spokane Airport, but reservations must be made in
<br />advance through the hotel. Ask for extension 7132.
<br />The round trip cost is $25. Please call for more
<br />information.
<br />
<br />American Rivers will host a conference entitled .
<br />'The Future of America's Hivers' on November 4-7, in
<br />Washington, D.C. The meeting will mark the 25th
<br />anniversary of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
<br />System. Federal, state and local decisionmakers will
<br />discuss watershed and ecosystem approaches for
<br />policy decisions, forging state and local partnerships,
<br />river restoration efforts and other topics. For
<br />information call American Rivers at (202) 547-6900.
<br />
<br />PUBUCATlONS
<br />
<br />'The West Comes 01 Age: Hard Times, Hard
<br />Choices,. is a recently published guide for state policy-
<br />makers in the West about regional trends in
<br />population, social characteristics, the economy,
<br />environment, and government. WESTRENDS was
<br />established in 1987 by the Western Legislative
<br />Conference and charged with analyzing changes in
<br />the Western United States that would impact public
<br />policy, and prescribing ways to translate those
<br />changes into policy choices. The report sells for $30.
<br />For information call (415) 974-6422.
<br />
<br />The WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL is an organization of representatives appointed by the Governors of .
<br />member states - Alaska, Arizona, Califomia, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota,
<br />Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming, and associate member state Oklahoma
<br />
|