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
Position #492 – Regarding Bureau of Reclamation Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation Needs
Position #492 - Regarding Bureau of Reclamation Maintenance, Repair and Rehabilitation Needs WHEREAS, the Bureau of Reclamation’s mission is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest...
Position #491 – Subseasonal to Seasonal Weather Research Forecasting Innovation May 2023
Position #491 - Subseasonal to Seasonal Weather Research Forecasting Innovation May 2023 WHEREAS, Western States experience great subseasonal, seasonal, and annual variability in precipitation, with serious impacts and consequences for water supply planning and...
Position #490 – Regarding Water Quality Standards and Federal Reserved Treaty Rights for Tribes
Position #490 - regarding water quality standards and federal reserved treaty rights for tribes May 2023. WHEREAS, the mission of the Western States Water Council is to ensure that the West has an adequate, sustainable supply of water of suitable quality to meet its...
Issue #2600
To view and download the newsletter, click the link below: Issue #2600
WSWC Support for the Introduction of the Water Data Act
On May 23, the WSWC wrote a letter of support to Representative Melanie Stansbury (D-NM) who introduced the Water Data Act (H.R. 7792). The letter noted the WSWC “…supports leveraging state and federal resources to build a national water data framework for sharing,...
House Hearing – The Future of Forecasting
On October 14, the House Science, Space & Technology Committee held a hearing on The Future of Forecasting: Building a Weather-Ready Nation on all Fronts. NOAA’s Weather Ready Nation effort has helped the U.S. be better prepared for managing impacts of short-term...
North Dakota Southwest Pipeline Construction Manager
The North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR) is looking for a person with a background in engineering or construction management to serve the citizens of our state as a part of our team. DWR offers rewarding work opportunities with a competitive employee...
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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...
WestFAST March 2024 Newsletter
Click here for the March 2024 WestFAST Newsletter. World Water Day: How the USGS is Using Imagery as Data for Water Science; Biden-Harris Administration Announces Major Milestone to Protect Short-Term Stability of Colorado River Basin; NASA Data Shows How Drought...
(2019, Post) WSWC/NASA Technology Transfer for Water Management in the Western United States
WSWC/NASA Technology Transfer for Water Management in the Western United States, 2019 (Link to Event) OVERVIEW: The Western States Water Council (WSWC) is sponsoring a workshop on technology transfer for water management in the western United States with the National...
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