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
2021 Symposium on the Settlement of Indian Reserved Water Rights Claims
#474 – Drought Preparedness, Prediction and Early Warning Programs
Position #474 - September 16, 2021 WHEREAS, the Western States Water Council is a policy advisory body representing eighteen states, and has long been involved in western water conservation, development, protection, and management issues, and western states have a...
#473 – Federal Water and Climate Data Collection and Analysis Programs
Position #473 - September 16, 2021 WHEREAS, the Western States Water Council is a policy advisory body representing eighteen states, and has long been involved in western water conservation, development, protection, and management issues, and the member states and...
#472 – Clean Water Act Jurisdiction
Position #472 - September 16, 2021 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 Engineers to implement the CWA as...
Issue #2469 Special Report
Issue #2469 Special Report
Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule
On August 2, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) closed the comment period for its Intention to Reconsider and Revise the Clean Water Act Section 401 Certification Rule (Docket #EPA-HQ-OW-2021-0302-0001). EPA’s notice of intent indicated that its revisions would...
Testimony: EPA 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 water and wastewater infrastructure, including Clean Water...
WSWC Spring 2021 (195th) Meetings – Presentations
Presentations and meeting materials from the 195th WSWC Meetings are available online, as well as the virtual field trip video of the Rio Grande. Meeting minutes will be posted in June.
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WestDAAT Use Cases and Personas
Background The focus of the WaDE program is to provide a framework for states to share important water data with each other, with federal agencies, and with the public with an emphasis on enabling regional analysis. States make their water data available to the WaDE...
#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...
Stock Water Rights for Grazing Livestock on Federal Lands
A report on select western state and federal laws, policies, and perspectives on stock water rights, as well as some stock owner perspectives. The report is intended to serve as a useful tool to facilitate understanding, and as a springboard to continue conversations as we seek to reduce conflicts where possible.
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
