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 #511 – Water Infrastructure Funding
Position #511 - Water Infrastructure Funding WHEREAS, maintaining and delivering sufficient water supplies of suitable quality is key to the West’s economic prosperity, environmental needs, and our quality of life, both now and in the future; and WHEREAS, appropriate...
Position #510 – Weather Station Networks
Position #510 - Weather Station Networks WHEREAS, Western States experience great variability in precipitation, with serious impacts and consequences for water supply planning and management, drought and flood preparedness and response, water rights and water market...
Position #509 – Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations and Innovations
Position #509 - Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations and Innovations WHEREAS, Western States experience great variability in precipitation, with serious impacts and consequences for the operation of water projects, particularly aging water infrastructure, as well as...
Issue #2671
To view and download the newsletter, click on the link below: Issue #2671 HIGHLIGHTS The Corps is updating its NEPA rules following a recent Supreme Court decision and the Fiscal Responsibility Act; it will apply to CWA permit applications and WRDA projects. EPA...
WSWC Letter of Support for Landsat Next
On August 16, the WSWC sent a letter to Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Brain and Deputy Administrator Melroy, expressing strong support for the timely development and launch of the Landsat Next mission given its increasingly critical importance to western water...
House NR Subcommittee Hearing: Hybrid WOW Legislative Hearing
On May 12, the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Oceans, and Wildlife held a remote hearing on the following bills: (1) H.R. 3081 to make certain irrigation districts eligible for Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program pumping power, and for other purposes;...
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Topical Resources
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WaDE 2.0 Metadata Dictionary for Sharing Site-Specific Historic Water Use Time Series Data (Draft)
Background The WaDE data dictionary is a product of a 10-year effort among the western 18 states for an agreed-upon common metadata schema implemented in a centralized data system that is used for sharing water rights and water use data to enable regional analysis...
Issue #2674/Special Report
To view and download the newsletters, click on the link below: Issue #2674 Issue #2674 Special Report HIGHLIGHTS President Trump’s August 7 Executive Order requires agencies to appoint senior officials to review all new federal grant opportunities in coordination with...
(2019, Post) WSWC/CDWR Sub-Seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Precipitation Forecasting Workshop
WSWC/CDWR Sub-Seasonal to Seasonal (S2S) Precipitation Forecasting Workshop (Link to Event) The Western States Water Council and the California Department of Water Resources cosponsored a workshop in a continuing series between western states and the National Oceanic...
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
