On April 21, 2020, the WSWC wrote to various federal agencies with water-related responsibilities to “express our strong continuing commitment to working together to address the serious water resources challenges facing the West and the Nation.”
Further, we would like to express our appreciation for the hard work of your representatives and your leadership as a principal participant directing federal efforts as part of what is our unique Western States Federal Agency Support Team (WestFAST). It serves as a successful model for greater federal collaboration in support of state priorities related to water resources management.
The letter summarizes the Western Governors’ organization of the WSWC in 1965 and the organization of WestFAST at the request of Western Governors in 2008. It goes on to describe some of the key accomplishments and collaborative efforts of WestFAST, including the ability to effectively carry out Presidential memoranda and executive orders and Congressional statutes by working more closely with each other and with states. The letter requests that the federal agencies continue to support WestFAST, which requires a significant commitment of time and resources.