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HIGHLIGHTS
On March 16, a coalition of water managers, utilities, and associations — including WSWC and ICWP — sent a letter to House and Senate Appropriations leadership requesting $34M for the USGS Federal Priority Streamgage Network and $33M for the Cooperative Matching Funds Program. The organizations stressed that adequate funding is essential for public safety, flood and drought response, water supply forecasting, and maintaining the long-term hydrologic record.
On March 11, the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs held a hearing on federal policies governing Indian water rights settlements and S. 953, the Northeastern Arizona Indian Water Rights Settlement Act, with testimony from DOI and leaders of the Navajo Nation, Hopi Tribe, and San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe. Chairman Murkowski and Vice Chairman Schatz both emphasized that fulfilling these settlements is a solemn federal trust obligation, noting that $12B in pending settlements are currently before the committee. The administration expressed strong support for the goals of S. 953 but raised significant cost concerns, with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Scott Cameron calling for creative solutions to reduce the $5B price tag. All three tribal leaders delivered compelling testimony on the severity of water scarcity in their communities, describing the settlement as essential not just legally but culturally.
On March 16, Senator Ben Ray Luján announced that the Bureau of Reclamation has expedited the release of $120M in funding for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project. Upon completion, the project will deliver a long-term, sustainable water supply from the San Juan River to approximately 43 Navajo Nation chapters, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the City of Gallup, all of which currently rely on a rapidly depleting groundwater supply.
On March 9, the Instream Flow Council and the American Fisheries Society announced that Oregon State University has been selected to host the new National Center for Ecologically Sustainable Water Conservation and Management. The Center will provide interdisciplinary training, continuing education, and research support aimed at improving water allocation decisions that balance both human and ecological water needs.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Western States Water is moving to a new delivery schedule. To help you kick off your week with the latest in water policy, future issues will now arrive in your inbox on Monday mornings. Please update your filters to ensure you don’t miss an issue!
On April 15, the Water Data Exchange Program and its public interface WestDAAT are scheduled to be archived and sunset. WSWC will maintain a directory of official state water data portals at westernstateswater.org/state-data-portals to support the transition.
MEETINGS
The WSWC Spring (209th) Meetings and Washington, D.C., Roundtable, jointly hosted by the Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP), will be held from April 21-24, 2026. The agendas are now available on the event website.
The Joint ICWP-WSWC Roundtable is an in-person only meeting with a registration fee. Please register in advance from the ICWP event page. The WSWC Organizational Meeting will be held in person with virtual accommodations. There is no registration fee. Please register in advance from the WSWC event page.
MEETING SCHEDULE:
Monday: Travel Day
Tuesday: Congressional Hill Visits
Wednesday: Joint ICWP-WSWC Roundtable and evening reception
Thursday: WSWC Organizational Meeting
Friday: WSWC-WestFAST Principals Meeting (EPA Headquarters from 9:00 am – 11:00 am)
MEETING VENUE: All ICWP/WSWC meetings on Wednesday and Thursday will be held at the Xylem Reservoir Center for Water Solutions located at 301 Water Street SE, Washington, DC 20003.