Western States Water Council
A Voice for Water in the West since 1965
What We Do
Our mission is to ensure that the West has an adequate, secure, and sustainable supply of water of suitable quality to meet its diverse economic and environmental needs now and in the future.
Western Water Policy Positions
Raise water as a critical public policy priority. Policy positions are vetted with the governors, adopted by the Council, and promoted on behalf of Western States.
Weekly Newsletter
Report and curate state and federal news on water-related issues, as well as other activities and events.
Federal Reserved Tribal and Non-Tribal Water Rights
Support authorization and funding of negotiated settlements between tribes, states, and federal agencies to resolved unquantified tribal and non-tribal water claims.
Water Infrastructure
Recognize and promote active asset management, including consistent funding to address aging infrastructure challenges, future water supply, and water and wastewater treatment needs.
Sharing of State-Level Water Data
Develop and grow the Water Data Exchange (WaDE) Program that streamlines access to water rights and water use data, water quality and other water related databases.
Enhance State and Federal Relationships and Encourage Collaboration
Serve as a forum for Interstate and State/Federal dialogue and action on emerging and ongoing water issues with our Western States Federal Agency Support Team (WestFAST).
Water Quality-Quantity Nexus
Recognize and promote efforts to better manage and balance the interrelationships between the development and allocation of water resources, wastewater treatment, and water quality.
Water-Related Observing Systems and Data
Support the maintenance and expansion of critical observing systems and promote innovation related to the monitoring and reporting of water-related parameters.
WSWC Fall 2021 (197th) Meetings
2021 Symposium on the Settlement of Indian Reserved Water Rights Claims
WSWC Summer 2021 (196th) Meetings
#477 – Abandoned Hardrock Mine Cleanup
Position #477 - September 16, 2021 WHEREAS, the General Mining Act of 1872 allowed individuals to obtain exclusive rights to valuable hardrock mineral deposits on land belonging to the United States without requirements to reclaim the land until the 1970s; and...
#476 – States’ Water Rights and Natural Flows
Position #476 - September 16, 2021 WHEREAS, the Western States Water Council strongly supports preservation of the States’ inherent right to develop, use, control, and distribute water; and WHEREAS, States have exclusive authority over the allocation and...
#475 – Bureau of Reclamation Drought Response Program
Position #475 - September 16, 2021 WHEREAS, the Western States Water Council is a policy advisory body representing eighteen states and since its inception the Council has been actively involved in national drought preparedness, planning and response, as well as...
Issue #2487
WOTUS Letter to EPA and Corps
On October 4, the WSWC sent a letter to the EPA and Army (Civil Works) expressing the need for more robust and ongoing consultation with states on the development of a new rule defining the jurisdictional scope of “waters of the United States.”
House hearing on water resources
On November 4, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held a remote hearing on the following bills: (1) H.Res. 320 recognizing the critical importance of access to reliable, clean drinking water for Native Americans and Alaska Natives...
WRP Webinar: Groundwater-Surface Water Interface
On October 26, 2021, the Western Regional Partnership (WRP) hosted a Western Water Security webinar on Groundwater-Surface Water Interface. Speakers from Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah offered different perspectives on the...
Western Water Perspectives
In this section, we will post reflective articles on water-related topics that summarize and review what has been done on a particular theme of interest.
WIDS Summer Meeting – August 2021
Water Information and Data Subcommittee (WIDS) Summer Meeting – August 2021 Meeting Summary The meeting was attended by 40 experts on water and data including guests from the Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP) Water Data & Science Committee. The meeting...
Issue #2487
Wild & Scenic Rivers Workshop
On September 14, 2021, the Western States Water Council and WestFAST jointly hosted a Wild & Scenic Rivers Workshop. The Non-Tribal Federal Water Rights Workgroup, comprised of WSWC and WestFAST members, has as its primary purpose to facilitate state-federal...
The Western States Water Council is the preeminent water policy organization in the western U.S. representing as it does 18 western states. From influential positions on federal rules and legislation to support of Landsat missions intended to acquire important water use information, the Council serves it member states like no other entity. My 18-year membership with the Council is one of the most memorable experiences of my service as Wyoming State Engineer.
I find the Council to be a provocative forum to discuss how State water supply and water quality program should interact. Western perspectives highlight the unique and confounding aspects of managing water quality in ways that defy uniform application of the Clean Water Act. And there may be no greater champion of the importance of water data programs of the USGS and NRCS than the WSWC.
The Western States Water Council is recognized as a national leader in developing and influencing national and western water policy, while serving as the water arm for the Western Governors’ Association. The Council provides an excellent forum for states and federal agencies to discuss water issues of mutual interest. I know that my time on the Council certainly enhanced my ability as a leader on state water issues.
Contact Us
Western States Water Council Office
682 East Vine Street, Suite 7
Murray, UT 84107-5501
(801) 685-2555
(801) 685-2559 (fax)
jgroat@wswc.utah.gov
Julie Groat
Administrative Assistant
