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Show 79 PREPARED STATEMENT OF THE WESTERN STATES WATER COUNCIL PRESENTED BY TONY WILLARDSON, ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR The Western States Water Council is an organization representing eighteen states. Members are appointed by their respective governors to address a broad range of water policy issues affecting the West. The Council has been actively involved in drought management and policy since 1976, when it served the governors as a regional coordinating body for drought relief efforts and a clearinghouse for information on drought conditions. Western states learned from that experience, and began developing drought preparedness plans for the future. There is no doubt that timely, effective government action at the Federal, State, local and tribal levels to prevent or mitigate drought impacts can significantly reduce the effects of drought and the need for relief expenditures. Every one of our member states has in place some type of drought preparedness plan, and drought prediction, monitoring and assessment activities are an important part of these plans. Much of the West is characterized by its aridity. Water is scarce. Its availability continues to circumscribe our economic and environmental well being and quality of life. Drought is a continuous threat. However, this year many areas of the West are facing record breaking shortages. Since 1976, much has been done to develop new water supplies for all purposes and improve water use efficiencies, but a fast growing population and its demands for both consumptive and non- consumptive uses of limited water resources make balancing our water resource supplies and demands a never ending challenge. Drought makes that challenge more difficult, while at the same time serving as a catalyst for changing water management and use policies. Responsibilities for addressing the impacts of water shortages must be shared. Individual private initiative is the first line of defense, followed by collective local action and the use of state programs. However, the impacts of drought may over extend their available resources and require a federal response. In the past, our collective actions have not always been well coordinated. Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico and Judy Martz of Montana, co- lead governors for drought issues for the Western Governors' Association have said, " It is high time for our nation to have a comprehensive national policy for drought." Recently, Rep. Alcee Hastings introduced H. R. 4754, the National Drought Preparedness Act of 2002 to establish a National Drought Council within the Federal Emergency Management Agency to improve preparedness, mitigation and response efforts. A bipartisan group of members from across the Nation have signed as co- sponsors of the bill. Companion legislation ( S. 2528) has been introduced by Senator Pete Domenici, again with bipartisan support. Western governors helped draft this legislation and have called on the Congress and the President to support its enactment. It calls for coordination of government efforts at all levels involving drought monitoring, planning, mitigation and response. It also calls for establishment of research priorities and improved collaboration among scientists and resource managers. Drought monitoring and the establishment of triggers for response is a critical component requiring a comprehensive, integrated national program designed to provide reliable, accessible and timely information to decision- makers. The uncertainty surrounding the definition and occurrence of drought, as well as its magnitude, duration and severity often make it difficult to make policy and management decisions. Sound science and good data are key to successful drought management strategies. The National Drought Preparedness Act directs that the National Drought Council would coordinate and prioritize specific activities under a National Drought Monitoring Network, which would collect and integrate information on key drought- related indicators, including streamflow, ground water levels, reservoir levels, soil moisture, snowpack, precipitation and temperature. States rely to a large extent on climatological and hydrologic information gathered by several federal agencies including the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ( NOAA), the Natural Resources Conservation Service ( NRCS), the U. S. Bureau of Reclamation ( BOR) and the U. S. Geological Survey ( USGS). The Council would be responsible for coordinating drought monitoring, prediction and research, as well as water supply forecasting activities. The Council would also be responsible for developing an effective drought information delivery system that would communicate conditions and impacts to government decision- makers at all levels, as well as the private sector and the public. This would include near- real- time data and other information products that reflect regional and state differences in drought conditions. Other important components of the legislation include the establishment of a National Office of Drought Preparedness, creation of a Drought Assistance Fund, fed- |
