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 Summer (204th) Meetings in West Fargo, North Dakota
2024 WSWC Spring (203rd) Meetings and Washington Roundtable
New Mexico Integrated Water Financing Plan: Introductory Webinar
Position #517 – State Nutrient Reduction Strategies
Position #517 - State Nutrient Reduction Strategies WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act (CWA) establishes individual States as co-regulators, responsible for establishing comprehensive water quality standards and nutrient reduction strategies for waters within their borders;...
Position #516 – The Dividing the Waters Program for Judges
Position #516 – The Dividing the Waters Program for Judges WHEREAS, the Dividing the Waters Program of the National Judicial College has served western judges overseeing complex water litigation since 1993, providing information and training resources on water law and...
Position #515 – State Primacy over Groundwater
Position #515 – State Primacy over Groundwater WHEREAS, groundwater is a critically important natural resource that is vital to the economy and environment of the arid West; and WHEREAS, the Desert Land Act of 1877 and the United States Supreme Court in California...
Issue #2629
To view and download the newsletter, click on the link below. Issue #2629
Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act (H.R. 7779)
On September 23, the WSWC sent a letter to the House Leadership in support of the Good Samaritan Remediation of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act (H.R. 7779), as well as additional comments. Sept 23, 2024 WSWC Letter to House Leadership Regarding Good Sam
Senate Subcommittee on Space and Science
On December 1, 2022, the Western States Water Council provided written testimony to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Space and Science on Landsat at 50 and the Future of U.S. Satellite-based Earth Observation. The WSWC has...
Idaho Law Review 2024 Water Law Symposium
Join us on March 22, to hear from the leading scholars and experts in their fields about state water rights adjudications; administrative regulation over "waters of the United States" ("WOTUS") after Sackett v. EPA; and how state and federal laws impact the resilience...
Western Water Perspectives
In this section, we will post reflective articles on water-related topics that summarize and review what has been done on a particular theme of interest.
Topical Resources
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Users Engagement Report: Western States Water Data Access and Analysis Tool (WestDAAT)
Download Executive Summary This report summarizes the Western States Water Council (WSWC) engagement campaign with users pre- and post-development of the Western States Water Data Access and Analysis Tool (WestDAAT),[1] mainly from September 2021 through September...
Issue #2629
To view and download the newsletter, click on the link below. Issue #2629
Outreach Sheet
WestFAST Outreach Sheet
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
