Open Access40 Years of Change: The Western States Water Council
Author(s) -
Willardson Anthony
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
journal of contemporary water research and education
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1936-704X
pISSN - 1936-7031
DOI - 10.1111/j.1936-704x.2005.mp131001007.x
Subject(s) - water resources , citation , western europe , library science , presentation (obstetrics) , state (computer science) , political science , water development , public administration , history , law , business , european union , computer science , medicine , radiology , biology , economic policy , ecology , algorithm
The Western Governors’ Conference created the Western States Water Council during meetings in Portland, Oregon on June 10–13, 1965. The governors’ resolution explicitly states that “future growth and prosperity of the western states depend upon the availability of adequate quantities of water of suitable quality.” Further, the governors felt that a fair appraisal of future water needs, and the most equitable means of meeting such needs, demanded a regional effort. Water availability and interbasin transfers of water were important issues. Western states found themselves in an era of rapid federal water resources development, and regional or basinwide planning, without a sufficient voice in the use of their water resources. The Council has since provided a unified voice, advising western governors on water policy issues. Earlier, the Western Interstate Water Conference, representing western state water resources research institutes, adopted a resolution at meetings in Las Vegas, Nevada on September 16-17, urging the western governors to establish a task force composed of representatives from each of the western states to consider the formation of a permanent regional water commission. At its 1964 Annual Meeting the Western Conference of the Council of State Governments approved an essentially identical resolution, which reads in part: