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 2023 Fall Meetings
2023 Improving Sub-seasonal to Seasonal Precipitation Forecasting to Support Water Management Workshop
WSWC-NARF 18th Biennial Indian Reserved Water Rights Symposium
Position #507 – Outlining Actions Federal Agencies Should Take to Expedite State General Stream Adjudications
Position #507 - Outlining Actions Federal Agencies Should Take to Expedite State General Stream Adjudications WHEREAS, the western states use general stream adjudications to determine and document relative water rights within basins, including rights to waters claimed...
Position #506 – Asserting State Primacy on Protecting Ground Water Quality
Position #506 - Asserting State Primacy on Protecting Ground Water Quality WHEREAS, groundwater is a critically important natural resource, especially in the mostly arid West; and WHEREAS, groundwater management – the protection of its quality and its orderly,...
Position #505 – Supporting USDA Conservation Programs and Water Resources
Position #505 - Supporting USDA Conservation Programs and Water Resources WHEREAS, water is the lifeblood of the West and this is most apparent in the agricultural sector, which accounts for the predominant share of consumptive water use westwide; and WHEREAS,...
Issue #2585
Issue #2585
Senate EPW Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure Hearing
On May 16, 2023, Jennifer Verleger, Chair, Western States Water Council, and Assistant Attorney General, North Dakota Office of the Attorney General provided testimony before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Subcommittee on Transportation and...
Utah Division of Drinking Water Director Position
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality is seeking a Division Director for the Division of Drinking Water. This position will report directly to the Executive Director of the Department of Environmental Quality. Principal Duties As the Division Director you will...
WSWC Celebrating Ten Years of Western Water Data Sharing
Ten years ago, the Western States Water Council launched the Water Data Exchange (WaDE) Program. Since then, WaDE has made great strides in sharing western water data and has grown significantly and become a national data hub as part of the Internet of Water. Check...
Topical Resources
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Availability of Aggregated Water Use and Budget Data in the Colorado River Basin States
Download Executive Summary The Colorado River Basin is a critical resource to its seven basin states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, providing water supply for agriculture, hydropower, recreation, fish and wildlife...
WestFAST November 2023 Newsletter
Google’s ‘A Passage of Water’ Brings NASA’s Water Data to Life; USDA Streamlines Regional Conservation Partnership Program, Invests Unprecedented $1 Billion in 81 Conservation Projects; Biden-Harris Administration Announces $2 Billion to Fund Environmental and Climate...
Applicability of regional classification schemes and analytical tools to regional definitions of Waters of the United States (WOTUS)
Applicability of regional classification schemes and analytical tools to regional definitions of Waters of the United States (WOTUS)
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
