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.

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;...

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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...

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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...

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Issue #2634

To view and download the newsletter, click the link below: Issue #2634

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S. 2568 Open Access Evapotranspiration (Open ET) Data Act

On June 7, the Western States Water Council submitted written comments to the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Public Lands, Forests & Mining Subcommittee strongly supporting efforts to enhance and expand the availability of and open access to...

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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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WaDE Pilot Water Use Data Sharing Project with USGS

The Water Data Exchange (WaDE) Program at the Western States Water Council (WSWC) received a Moore Foundation grant extension through Duke University from September 16, 2021 - September 15, 2022, to accomplish, among other deliverables, a Pilot Data Sharing Project of...

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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.

Pat Tyrrell

Former 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.

Tom Stiles

Kansas Dept. of Health & Environment

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.

Garland Erbele

Former North Dakota State Engineer

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