Headwaters News Forum: Water in the West
Topic - Are there solutions to conflicts?

editor
Posted: Thu May 16, 2002 8:35 am   Subject: Are there solutions to conflicts?

What potential solutions are there to increasing conflicts over water use in the West, other than changing the rules?

Jeff Fassett
Posted: Thu May 16, 2002 8:46 pm

There are always solutions to conflict, most are hard but the solution must be customised to fit the probelm. You cannot "throw out the rules", you often will need some framework upon which to build a solution. In western water matters that will often include the prior appropriation doctrine.

Many have talked about the watershed based groups around the west that are having success forging grassroots based solutions to difficult problems. But these processes take a long time and require resources, often from the Federal or State governments, to fund the techincal studies, faciitators, etc.

In Wyoming, the State embarked upon a very proactive public involvement water planning process, that inclusive in nature, but where the state provide substantial funding for the technical studies that can provide the basis for further public discussion and debate on the future development, use and protection of water resources.

On a larger scale there have been several long term river basin efforts in the Upper and Lower Colorado, the Platte River and California Bay-Delta area where the conflict over the allocation/re-allocation of water and protecting the endangered species of the area are being cooperatively resolved. These processes take a hugh commitment of time and resources, but most participants believe the outcomes are "one they can live with", not the ones they necessarily wanted.

Gens Johnson
Posted: Thu May 16, 2002 8:50 pm

Can the salmon recovery money be used to seed these problem-solving, collaborative processes?

Guest
Posted: Thu May 16, 2002 8:51 pm   Subject: are there solutions to conflicts

The big "conflict" in the West is water quality. How can it be resolved when the laws don't require agriculture to comply with best management practices. Public interest groups end up going through endless make-nice meetings to implement the Clean Water Act for non-point agricultural sources. Clean up plans (TMDLS) are an endless sink for volunteers with good intensions. How can we get AG to agree to mandatory CWA compliance?

Jeff Fassett
Posted: Thu May 16, 2002 9:06 pm

The above commenter makes a good point, water quality is major issue that will continue to require much attention. I am not sure futher legal mandates to agriculture will work. It seems to me approaches using incentives and bringing more resources to the table will do more than a heavy-handed law. Many in agriculture want to do more, but often need the finanial resources to implement the best management practices that others believe will make the greatest difference to water qualilty.

Lynn Tominaga
Location: Idaho
Posted: Sun May 19, 2002 4:46 pm   Subject: Clean Water Act and the Arid West

Clean water is essential to the quality of life and health of the citizens of the West. Where water is scarce and precious resources that must be managed considering all social, environmental, and economic values and needs. Much progress has occurred under the Clean Water Act toward the goal of controlling water pollution. The watershed approach allows focus on the critical problems that affect the river system.

Usually, the smaller watersheds and activie local input have provided many successes in solving water quality and quantity problems. It is when the water quality problems come on a larger scale there has been failures because the solutions are often decided from somewhere outside the river basin and often asks for more water than what is available. The federal agencies and even some state entities often asks for dilution to solve water quality problems. This doesn't necessary solve the problem but just delays the problem.

Bill Loftus
Location: Moscow, Idaho
Posted: Mon May 27, 2002 11:15 pm   Subject: Return on investment in salmon

In Lewiston these days, the boat are swarming the Clearwater and Snake rivers in a quest for chinook salmon. With more than 50,000 spring chinook across Lower Granite Dam, this season ranks as the second-best (after last year) in memory.

The boats carry a mix of grizzled anglers and families complete with young kids. Their presence is testimony to the appeal of salmon. Their presence is also proof that natural processes, given half a chance and halfway decent conditions, can show remarkable resilience. The salmon run that the Idaho fishing season is based on is among the best counted at Bonneville Dam since 1938.

Why? Good ocean conditions is the main reason. The salmon smolts that made it down river in 1999 and 2000 found plenty of food awaiting them. Man had a hand, too, by using spill and river flows to help speed the young fish out to the ocean. And again, natural forces helped by providing good snowpack and flows to make it possible.

If anyone has a doubt about the public´s valuation of salmon, come to the Clearwater in the next few weeks. Last week alone, anglers spent 20,000 hours, some 2-1/4 years collectively, chasing salmon. That kind of commitment should dispel any qualms about whether the efforts made so far by water managers and others are worth it.