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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.
2024 WSWC Spring (203rd) Meetings and Washington Roundtable
New Mexico Integrated Water Financing Plan: Introductory Webinar
WSWC 2023 Fall Meetings
#483 – Strengthening the Resiliency of Our Nation to the Impacts of Extreme Weather Events
#483 - Strengthening the Resiliency of Our Nation to the Impacts of Extreme Weather Events (August 5, 2022) WHEREAS, the West and the Nation continue to suffer the effects of increasingly extreme weather events, including tornadoes, hurricanes, extreme precipitation,...
#482 – Preservation of Radio Frequencies Necessary for Weather Forecasting and Water Management
#482 - Preservation of Radio Frequencies Necessary for Weather Forecasting and Water Management (August 5, 2022) WHEREAS, the Administration has launched a $45 Billion “Internet for All” Initiative to Connect Everyone in America; and WHEREAS, National...
#481 – Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
#481 - Clean Water Act Jurisdiction Position #481 (April 6, 2022) WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act (CWA) is built upon the principle of cooperative federalism in which Congress intended the states, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and the U.S. Army Corps of...
Issue #2604
To view and download the newsletter, click the link below: Issue #2604 ANNOUNCEMENTS: 2024-2025 U of U Environmental Dispute Resolution Program's Collaboration Certificate Course Every year, the Environmental Dispute Resolution (EDR) Program offers their...
WOTUS 2022 – Rule 1
On February 7, 2022, WSWC and several of our member states submitted comments on the proposed rule, “Revised Definition of the Waters of the United States” (86 FR 69372). A selection of letters is included below.
Testimony: Department of Interior Appropriations
On June 24, the WSWC submitted written testimony to the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. The testimony supports FY2022 funding requests related to federal responsibilities for Indian water rights...
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...
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Topical Resources
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WIDS Kickoff Spring Meeting – April 2021
Water Information and Data Subcommittee (WIDS) Kickoff Spring Meeting – April 2021 We had an amazing and historic turnout with 36 attendees representing most of our member states and partners. Thank you! Meeting Summary In this kickoff meeting, the WIDS group was...
WestFAST April 2024 Newsletter
Click here for the April 2024 WestFAST Newsletter. NASA-Led Study Provides New Global Accounting of Earth’s Rivers; Biden-Harris Administration Finalizes Critical Rule to Clean up PFAS Contamination to Protect Public Health; USDA Makes $1.5 Billion Available to Help...
(2018, Post) WSWC/CDWR Workshop on Improving S2S Precipitation Forecasting and Pilot Projects
Improving Sub-seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Precipitation Forecasting to Support Water Management Decision-making (Link to Event) The Western States Water Council and the California Department of Water Resources cosponsored workshop in a recurring series continuing a...
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
Office Manager