WSWC Summer (210th) Meetings
2026-07-13 00:00 - 2026-07-16 00:00 (America/Denver)
The Western States Water Council Summer (210th) Meetings will be held virtually during the week of July 13, 2026. Please note that virtual registration is required for each day and will include the specific time slots for you to choose.
WSWC VIRTUAL MEETINGS OUTLINE / REGISTRATION
All times are listed in Mountain Daylight Time (MDT).
Agenda and material links will be posted as they become available.
Monday, July 13
Virtual Registration
1:30 pm – 3:00 pm | Discussion: State-Federal MOUs | Agenda | Materials
MOUs (for water rights, water quality, and more) can be an effective means of establishing processes and procedures, setting expectations at both the state and federal levels, and making it easier to address issues before they arise. The goal of this discussion is to raise awareness of existing agreements, and to identify key elements that make MOUs successful and renewable.
Tuesday, July 14Virtual Registration
9:00 am – 11:30 am | WSWC Summer Meeting Kickoff | Agenda
Staff updates on strategic plan, FY27 budget overview, summer series webinars, etc.
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm | State Water Roundtable Discussions | Agenda
In 6 minutes, each state (starting with Executive Committee members) shares 1 pressing challenge, 1 useful insight/success, and 1 issue WSWC should track in FY2027. Q&A time is limited, but common themes will be captured for Weds-Thurs discussions.
Wednesday, July 15 Virtual Registration
9:00 am – 10:00 am | Discussion: Post-Sackett water quality permitting | Agenda | Materials
Waters of the state regulations, WOTUS implementation, state-federal collaboration
10:00 am – 11:30 am | Discussion: Water Data | Agenda | Materials
Monitoring, forecasting, streamgages, staffing, targeted advocacy
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm | Discussion: Data Centers | Agenda | Materials
Legislative updates, state water reuse regulations for cooling, water-energy nexus, etc.
2:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Discussion: Infrastructure | Agenda | Materials

Thursday, July 16Virtual Registration
9:00 am – 11:30 am WSWC Business Meeting | Agenda
Voting on policy positions, FY2027 Strategic Plan/Budget adjustments, member feedback.
1:30 pm – 4:00 pm | Executive Committee Meeting | Agenda (by invitation only)
SUMMER SERIES WEBINARS
Links will be provided as they become available
NASA’s Water Resources Program: Supporting Water Management in the U.S. West and Beyond (WestFAST Webinar, June 16th at 12:00 pm MDT | Recording)
Overview of Water Rights Litigation Nationwide with Stephen Bartell, DOJ (WestFAST Webinar, July 9th at 1:00 pm MDT | Webinar Link)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FIRO National Screening Updates (WSWC Webinar, July 22nd at 11:00 am MDT | Webinar link)
Opportunities to Improve Regional Water Planning and Investments in New Water Technologies, National Alliance for Water Innovation and Berkeley Lab (WSWC Webinar, Date & Time TBD | Fact Sheet)

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS:
Summer 2026 Sunsetting and Consolidated PositionsList of Sunsetted Positions Future Meetings ProjectionsJuly 2026 Membership ListWSWC Appointment Letter Template Legislation & Litigation TrackingRecent Policy Letters FY2026 Budget SnapshotWSWC FY2026 Strategic Plan Dashboard
Legislation & Litigation Update Presentation (20 minute video)
Member Forum (BETA) | Account Request Form | Video Overview
Fall WSWC Meetings – Las Cruces, NMFall 2026 Sunsetting and Consolidated Positions (next meeting)MINUTES from Washington, D.C. (Spring 2026)

WSWC Organizational Meeting

WSWC Webinar: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers FIRO National Screening Updates with Cary Talbot
2026-07-22 11:00 - 12:00
On July 22, the WSWC hosted a webinar providing an update on the progress of Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) Screening Program. Presenters included Cary Talbot, National Lead Engineer for the FIRO Program, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center (ERDC); and Elissa Yeates, Research Hydraulic Engineer and the lead developer of the FIRO Screening Process who has overseen its application to USACE Districts across the country.
FIRO is a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers research effort aimed at improving reservoir operations at USACE projects. The program equips water managers with forecast information on weather (precipitation), hydrology (discharge), and reservoir levels to support more flexible, efficient decision-making across authorized project purposes—including flood control, water supply, hydropower, recreation, and ecological benefits.
Cary Talbot Slide Deck
Elissa Yeates Slide Deck
July 2026 FIRO Update Webinar Recording

Mr. Talbot presented to WSWC members last fall during our September 2025 meetings in San Pedro, CA, where he provided an overview of the FIRO National Screening process as Stage A was wrapping up. The recording and slides for that presentation are available below. Shortly after, WSWC submitted a letter congratulating USACE on the successful completion of the Lake Mendocino Water Control Manual update at Coyote Valley Dam, which marked a historic milestone as the nation’s first fully formalized FIRO framework.
Link to Fall 2025 Slide Deck
Link to List of Corps Dams and Section 7 Dams (Engineer Regulation 1110-2-240)

NAWI Regional Water Planning Needs Webinar
2026-09-17 10:00 - 23:30 | via Zoom
The WSWC will partner with the Department of Energy’s National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI) to host a virtual webinar and feedback session for state water managers on Thursday, September 17, from 10 AM to 11:30 AM MT. This session gives members an opportunity to shape future federal research priorities, policy tools, and funding structures for non-traditional water supplies. Most of the 90-minute session will be devoted to facilitated discussion around NAWI’s Regional Water Systems RFI, covering three areas: (1) how water planners and utilities currently make decisions about regional project needs and non-traditional supply sources—including potential cross-sectoral benefits between water and electric power systems; (2) what modeling, analytical tools, and data gaps stand between planners and better-informed decisions; and (3) what funding, technical assistance, or other support NAWI could offer to help states and utilities close those gaps. Responses may come from cross-sector teams spanning industry, academia, national laboratories, nonprofits, trade associations, and the public sector, and should use the response template included in the RFI’s supporting documents. Written comments are due to NAWI’s portal by September 9.
Zoom Webinar: Register here
NAWI’s program includes a $75M investment over five years, with a new focus on regional water systems planning. Through its Regional Water Systems Request for Information (RFI: NAWI-5-2026), NAWI is seeking input from western state water planners to better understand the technological innovation landscape, identify barriers to regional investment in new water technologies, and learn how states approach decisions about demand, supply, and gaps in future water planning—with the goal of identifying tools and data models that can bridge the gap between available information and actionable insight for planners.
Presenters have encouraged members to review the slides or recording from NAWI’s August 4 informational webinar on the Regional Water Systems RFI ahead of the September 17 session, as they cover helpful background for the discussion. Review is not a prerequisite for attending. Slides / Video.
For additional background, see this two-page overview.

WSWC Fall (211th) Meetings – Las Cruces, New Mexico
2026-10-21 08:00 - 2026-10-23 18:00
The Western States Water Council Fall (211th) Meetings will be held on October 21-23, 2026 in Las Cruces, New Mexico at the Hilton Garden Inn, which is located at 2550 Don Roser Drive, Las Cruces, NM 88011. Further details will be posted once they become available.
TENTATIVE MEETING SCHEDULE:
Wednesday, October 21 Field Trip / Evening Reception
Thursday, October 22 All Day Meetings (tentative buffet lunch)
Friday, October 23 Executive Committee Over Breakfast Buffet (by invitation only)
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS:A room block is being held under the WSWC. The guest room rate for single/double occupancy is $135.00 per night, plus tax. ​The deadline to book within the room block is September 20. You can make reservations by calling the hotel directly at (575) 522-0900 and mentioning the special discount code: WSWC. Alternatively, you may book online using this Hilton Garden Inn Reservation Link.

The guest room rate will be extended for guests arriving or departing up to three days before or after the meeting dates, subject to availability. Any reservation requests received after the cut-off date will also be accepted based on availability.

Check-in after 3:00 p.m. on the day of arrival.Check-out time is prior to 12:00 p.m. on the day of departure

REGISTRATION INFORMATION:
MINUTES FROM SUMMER 2026 VIRTUAL MEETING:

MEETING MATERIALS:
