News

Western states, the Western States Water Council (WSWC) and other stakeholders met with representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Oct. 2 in South Dakota to ask questions and seek a role in rulemaking for the treatment of surplus water in Corps-managed reservoirs.

The meeting in Deadwood involved a frank conversation. Reporter Adam Hurlburt of the Black Hills Pioneer quoted Michelle Klose, an assistant state engineer with the North Dakota Water Commission, who summed up stakeholders' concerns: “The states and tribes all have rights along the river system for flows, and the Corps is making a different assumption here, it seems, than what we’ve understood in the past, since 1944.”

Northwest Division Program Director Dave Ponganis read an official statement that noted the Corps is solely "examining the need to update and clarify through notice and comment rulemaking the policies governing the use of storage in its reservoir projects" and that "any rulemaking that the Corps does pursue will ... provide ample opportunity for public comment and for consideration of all viewpoints expressed.” (Read the complete story in the Black Hills Pioneer.

While no decisions were made, the Corps' Ponganis did say that while “the different water rights is (sic) a very thorny issue ... that’s not a reason for us not to sit and talk about it, and it’s not a reason for us not to find ways forward.”

The Western Governors' Association (WGA) previously expressed its concern about the Corps rulemaking process in a letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). Read the letter. WSWC, which represents 18 Western states on water policy, sent a similar letter to the Corps on Aug. 6.

Specifically, the WSWC and WGA are concerned that an expanded definition of “stored water” in the Corps rulemaking process could make the natural flows of the river (water that would normally pass through a reservoir if not for a dam) subject to contracts and fees. Such a measure would fail to recognize state authority over management of surface water.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

"There was lightning everywhere, and I was listening on the fire channel frequency to the Danskin Lookout, and he started calling in fire reports everywhere. And we just went, 'Oh my god.' And then it went crazy from there."

Those are the words of Randy Davison, a rancher in the path of this past summer's massive Elk Complex Fire in Idaho, which ultimately consumed 281,000 acres.

Although Western states have lived through this scene all too often, we don't always see what happens after the fire. Now, a story on the Life on the Range website by Steve Steubner takes you from the beginning of the wildfire through the frantic efforts of ranchers to save livestock and buildings. And once the fire is contained, the story examines the challenges faced by ranchers who have lost their grazing land.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and others discuss the value of active range management (Here's what Western Governors have proposed in a similar area). There's also discussion of the other damages caused by the fire, including the loss of sage grouse habitat.

Learn more by watching the story and visit Life on the Range.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

By Jim Ogsbury

This morning at midnight, the federal government of the United States shut down.

Demonstrating that gridlock is the new normal in Washington, D.C., national leaders have been unable to even craft a budget, one of the most basic functions of our elected federal officials. Partisan rancor rules the day, and compromise is a dirty word.

Look to the West for a stark contrast. Western Governors are on the job. They are making things happen. They’re tackling challenging issues and working across the political aisle and state boundaries to develop bipartisan solutions to the region’s most pressing problems.

Over the past two days, while political passions flared in Washington, D.C., cooler heads prevailed in Denver. That’s where Western Governors' representatives met to develop bipartisan policies on such nettlesome issues as nuclear waste disposal, species conservation and water management.

The deliberations were marked by civility, cordiality and good humor. Differences were aired and confronted in a respectful and thoughtful manner. The Governors and their staff are committed to reach consensus on critical regional policy, and the Denver meeting helped inform the WGA’s bipartisan policy agenda.

If you have some time in December and want to see government in action, skip our Nation's Capital. Instead, join Western Governors at their winter meeting in Las Vegas. Registration information can be found here.

Jim Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors' Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The annual “Best States for Business” report by Forbes includes five Western Governors' Association members in its Top 10 and a dozen in its Top 25. The WGA states in the Top 10 included North Dakota (2), Utah (3), Colorado (5), Nebraska (6), Texas (7) and Washington (9).

When it comes to job growth, Forbes ranked Arizona No. 1, followed by fellow WGA states Texas (2), Colorado (3), North Dakota (4),Nevada (6), Utah (7), Idaho (9), and Oregon (10).

Here's where to find the complete list and read the entire Forbes report; some excerpts:

Arizona’s job and economic growth forecasts over the next five years are the best in the U.S.

North Dakota, over the past 5 years, is tops in job growth (3.7% annually), income growth (3.8%), gross state product growth (7.9%) and unemployment (3.6% average).

Utah companies benefit from energy costs 29% below the national average, helping its economy grow at 2% a year over the past five years — fourth best in the U.S.

Colorado is expected to have the third fastest growth for both jobs and household incomes over the next five years

Nebraska’s unemployment rate (4.2%) is the third lowest in the country.

Texas is the only state that ranks in the top five for both current economic climate and growth prospects.

Washington venture capitalists have poured $2 billion — sixth most in the U.S. — into the state between 2010 and 2012.

South Dakota’s business costs are 25% below the national average, the lowest in the country.

Oklahoma household incomes have risen 1.7% annually over the past five years, ranking fifth among all states.

Kansas living costs are among the lowest in the U.S. at roughly 10% below the national average.

Oregon’s economy has surged at the second fastest rate in the U.S over the past five years.

Wyoming is ranked first by The Tax Foundation in its analysis of state tax costs on business.

Idaho’s energy costs are the lowest in the U.S. at 32% below the national average.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, Chairman of the Western Governors' Association, and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, WGA Vice Chairman, will host their colleagues for two days of conversation on the vital issues facing the West during the WGA 2013 Winter Meeting Dec. 11-12 in Las Vegas. 

Issues that the governors will consider include wildfires, cleaner-fueled vehicles, environmental regulation, land management and water policy. (We'll have more details soon on the other Western Governors and high-profile federal officials who will be joining us.)  

The Winter Meeting will be held at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, which soars 47 stories above the world famous Strip as part of the urban resort development, CityCenter. And for those seeking an evening diversion, the world famous National Finals Rodeo competition is going on that week.

Learn more by visiting the registration website and get the best rate by signing up before Nov. 12. (Photo courtesy of Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.)

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE, Sept. 25: The Denver Post reports that the last person unaccounted for in Larimer County has been located. Read more.

Sept. 23: Vice President Joe Biden visited Colorado on Monday (Sept. 23) to tour flood-ravaged cities and towns in the wake of recent massive rainstorms. 

After a helicopter tour of the towns impacted by the storm, the Denver Post reported that Vice President Biden promised that even if the "dysfunction of Congress" results in a shut down of the federal government, FEMA resource centers and hotlines still will aid Colorado flood victims. Read more and also read the Associated Press report. (Photo by Associated Press)

In addition, officials announced that the state will begin the biggest emergency dam inspection program in Colorado history, checking 200 dams in 10 days, mostly along the South Platte River. Read more.

The flood death toll officially moved to 8 with the discovery of another body. To keep up with ongoing developments, follow coverage from The Denver Post, as well as updates in the Boulder Daily Camera and reporting in the Longmont Times-Call.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook. 

By Jim Ogsbury

To speak with Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter, you would think that he’s lived a half-dozen different lives. He can go long and deep on just about any subject you throw at him and has a funny anecdote to go with his insights on whatever topic that's being addressed.

Gov. Otter has been a rancher, academic, military serviceman, businessman and U.S. Congressman. He’s been elected twice as Governor of the great state of Idaho and served as Lieutenant Governor longer than anyone in the state’s history.

Predictably, Gov. Otter brought his quick wit and a fully loaded arsenal of stories with him to a recent Western Governors’ Association sponsor luncheon in Boise.

The Governor discussed a host of issues – including health care, energy and public lands – before turning his attention to WGA membership. The Governor, a former WGA chairman and tireless promoter of the association, explained to the assembled sponsors that he extracts more value from WGA than any other association to which he belongs as governor.

I have learned that the Governor is an effective advocate for causes in which he believes – like holding the WGA Winter Meeting in Las Vegas during the National Finals Rodeo in December. The Governor has lobbied on behalf of that proposal since our first meeting, noting that nothing is more Western than competitive rodeo.  He makes a compelling case; consequently, I look forward to seeing him Dec. 11-12 for this year’s WGA Winter Meeting at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

By the way, meeting registration is open. I hope to see you there as well. 

Jim Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors' Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The latest edition of the Western Governors' Association News Roundup marks our shift to a monthly publication schedule in recognition of the fast-moving pace of Western news in economic development, energy, natural resources.

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

"Results Washington" initiative launched: Gov. Jay Inslee has launched Results Washington, which allows state leaders to make better-informed, data-driven decisions that improve quality and speed service delivery. It will also allow Washingtonians to see how well state government, school districts, local governments and community organizations meet goals.

Alaska Space Industry Partnership: Gov. Sean Parnell signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell establishing a formal operating relationship between the Alaska Aerospace Corporation and the Virginia Commercial Spaceflight Authority.

Boeing expanding in Montana: Gov. Steve Bullock and Sen. Max Baucus joined Boeing CEO Jim McNerney to announce that Boeing will expand its Helena manufacturing site by nearly 50 percent and add more than 20 jobs during the Montana Economic Development Summit. 

FORESTS

Colorado grants for wildfire mitigation: Gov. John Hickenlooper announced more than $4 million in grants to reduce wildfire risk. The grants will be directed to 25 projects in 16 counties to treat more than 6,600 acres in areas where human development and forested landscapes overlap. 

Interactive Rim Fire map: The fourth largest wildfire in California history had burned about 256,528 acres in the Stanislaus National Forest near Yosemite National Park by Sept. 17, when it was 84% contained. This map shows how the fire grew after its start on Aug. 19.

NATURAL RESOURCES

Small-port dredging on Oregon coast: Gov. John Kitzhaber, the Oregon Legislature’s Coastal Caucus and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have announced a partnership to fund critical dredging projects for Oregon’s small coastal ports.

Climate Change Partnership With China: Gov. Jerry Brown of California and National Development and Reform Commission Vice Chairman Xie Zhenhua have signed an accord boosting bilateral cooperation on climate change, clean energy and low carbon development.

North Dakota Outdoor Heritage Fund Advisory Board: Gov. Jack Dalrymple has appointed the first members to this board, which will recommend projects to be supported through the Outdoor Heritage Fund at up to $30 million per biennium.

Wyoming regional haze plan: Gov. Matt Mead, noting his state has put a lot of resources into a strong plan for addressing regional haze, says the Environmental Protection Agency should not deny part of the state plan.

Protecting New Mexico Rivers and Watersheds: Gov. Susana Martinez has announced the New Mexico River Stewards Initiative, which will fund projects to clear vegetation in river areas, lower river banklines, replant native species vegetation, revitalize wetlands and install erosion control.

ET CETERA

Promoting Utah's great outdoors: Gov.Gary Herbert recently established the country's first state Office of Outdoor Recreation. Forbes wrote about Gov. Herbert's recent visit to New York to spread the word about Utah recreation opportunities and their economic impact.

Arizona Prescription Drug Initiative honored: Gov. Jan Brewer announced that Arizona’s Prescription Drug Misuse and Abuse Initiative has been awarded the 2013 Western Region Outstanding Criminal Justice Program Award.

Governor’s Conference on Small Business: Attendance exceeded expectations at Gov. Brian Sandoval's second annual conferenece, which allowed business leaders, policymakers and educators to interact with small business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs.

Skydiving for charity caught on video: South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard recently went skydiving for the first time to make good on a charitable bet.

Taiwan, Idaho sign wheat agreement: Gov. Butch Otter presided as Taiwan Flour Mills Association representatives and Idaho wheat industry officials signed an agreement supporting U.S. wheat exports in a deal worth $484 million.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE,  Sept. 19: Reuters reports that "property losses from deadly flooding in Colorado will total nearly $2 billion, about half from housing and half from the commercial and government sectors," according to catastrophe modeling firm Eqecat. Read the story.

Sept. 18: A rain-free day on Tuesday allowed emergency crews to bring help to stranded people and helicopters to ferry the willing to safety. Read coverage in the Denver Post, Boulder Daily Camera and Longmont Times-Call.

Sept. 17: The death toll reaches 8 as improved weather allows rescue crews to ramp up efforts with helicopters to bring those stranded in remote parts of Boulder and Larimer counties to safety. Read the Denver Post story.

Meanwhile, Colorado's richest oil field — the Denver-Julesburg Basin — is buried in floodwaters, raising operational and environmental concerns. Read more.

Sept. 16: The unrelenting rain for much of the past week along Colorado's Front Range has left a devastating mark: 6 deaths, 1,502 homes destroyed, 17,000 homes damaged, 11,700 people ordered evacuated and more than 1,200 still unaccounted for as of Monday (Sept. 16), according to The Denver Post.

The forecast for the week ahead shows clearing skies, but rain is expected to continue Monday afternoon. And for many people, better weather can't reverse the enormous losses suffered from Colorado Springs north to Boulder, Longmont, Greeley, Lyons and hard-hit Jamestown.

More than 2,000 people and 500 pets have been evacuated from flood-damaged areas, including several people spotted from a helicopter on Saturday that included Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper (Read the story) while on the way to a media briefing.

On Monday (9/16) U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan announced HUD will speed federal disaster assistance to the State of Colorado and provide support to homeowners and low-income renters forced from their homes due to severe storms, flooding, landslides and mudslides. Read more.

To keep up with ongoing developments, follow coverage from The Denver Post, as well as updates in the Boulder Daily Camera and reporting in the Longmont Times-Call.

If you would like to assist victims of the flood, visit this page to select from a variety of ways to help.

If you have suffered flood losses, apply for assistance by calling (800) 621-FEMA or visiting this website. 

Flooding from this weather pattern also has been an issue in New Mexico. Gov. Susana Martinez toured flooding in Las Vegas, N.M., during the past weekend. Read more.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

By Jim Ogsbury

Schrodinger and Heisenberg are driving in a car when they are pulled over by a police officer.

“Do you know how fast you were going?” asked the officer. Heisenberg answered, “No, but I can tell you exactly where I was.” Thinking that this odd response justified a search, the policeman looks in the trunk, finds a dead cat and asks, “Do you know that there is a dead cat in the trunk?” Schrodinger replied, “I do now!”

I don’t get that joke, but a number of scientists laughed when I told it during a recent visit to the University Corporation for Atmospheric Research (UCAR), a longtime sponsor of WGA. But in the same way that I don’t really understand science, many scientists are at sea when it comes to the development of public policy. While the world of science is methodical, linear and logical, the world of public policy can be messy, disorderly and chaotic.

Accordingly, I was pleased to accept UCAR’s invitation to visit them in Boulder and deliver a presentation, designed for scientists, about how to communicate effectively with policymakers. A principal message of the address: Policy decisions are made in a broad context in which the “right” solution is but one of many factors involved in determining a course of action. Others include cost, social values and political considerations. Scientists are well advised to recognize the competing pressures bearing on decision-making and to adjust their messaging accordingly.

The scientists at UCAR understand the central role that Western Governors play in the creation of public policy affecting the scientific enterprise. Consequently, they were attentive, engaged and asked great questions. A few even tried to explain the physics joke.

I still don’t get it.

Watch the speech.

Jim Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Western Governors want to improve management of federal and state lands in areas where there is "checker-boarded" ownership or state lands are completely "captive" within the boundaries of a federal management area.

That's why we closely followed Tuesday's (Sept. 10) oversight hearing “School Trust Lands Ownership within Federal Conservation Areas” before the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation.

Kathy Opp, president of the Western States Land Commissioners Association (WSCLA), asked the House panel to develop legislation to speed the exchange of state and federal lands. It's a big issue, said Opp, who noted WSLCA member states manage more than 447 million acres of public and endowed trust lands, submerged lands and minerals.

Western Governors recently adopted a policy resolution, Federal-State Land Exchanges and Purchases, that seeks a similar improvment in the land exchange process. (Read the resolution.)

As to next steps in this process, a story by E&E News writer Phil Taylor reported:

Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona, the subcommittee's ranking Democrat, said the WSLCA proposal could garner support from conservation groups and the federal government as long as the details are worked out.

"We have to ensure land exchanges are transparent and open following established federal standards and not taking unnecessary shortcuts" Grijalva said. "Environmental review and protected endangered species cannot be tossed out with the bath water."

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

By Jim Ogsbury

When I visit a newly elected Western Governor, I am prepared to brief him or her on the benefits of active participation in WGA.

When I visited Gov. Steve Bullock of Montana, however, I communicated an entirely different message. I traveled to Helena to thank the Governor for diving headfirst into the WGA pool immediately following his election in 2012.

The Governor and several of his top staff welcomed me to his stately office in the historic Montana Capitol, where Gov. Bullock proceeded to ask a number of penetrating questions about the history, structure and procedures of WGA.

Since then, he has regularly engaged in the association’s resolutions process and made invaluable contributions to the development and promotion of the WGA’s policy agenda.

Gov. Bullock moderated a dynamic and informative discussion regarding public lands at our recent annual meeting in Park City, Utah, and contributed an essay on Montana’s energy diversity – from fossil fuels to geothermal -- for inclusion in Energy Perspectives, a recent WGA publication featuring energy-related essays by 19 Western Governors. (Download it here.)

A native Montanan and graduate of Columbia Law School, Gov. Bullock previously served as the state’s Attorney General. Funny and engaging, he's as accessible as he is hard-working, and WGA thanks him for his service and leadership.

Learn more about the Governor and the great state of Montana at the state's new official website.

Jim Ogsbury is the Executive Director of the Western Governors Association. Contact him at 303-623-9378 or at   This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Western Governors' Association (WGA) Policy Manager and energy expert Rich Halvey will discuss the "10-Year Energy Vision" on Friday, Sept. 6, in the kick-off event of the Distinguished Speaker Series at the University of Wyoming.

The WGA recently unveiled the "10-Year Energy Vision," which lays out overarching goals for Western energy policy. It also provides a comprehensive approach to energy policy, from fossil fuels to renewables, as well as a focus on energy efficiency, environmental protection and education.

The Distinguished Speaker Series event runs from noon-1 p.m. Friday at the university's Encana Auditorium in the Energy Innovation Center. The event is presented by UW School of Energy Resources and the Haub School of Environment & Natural Resources.

Visit here for more information

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

States have a long history of effectively regulating the practice of hydraulic fracturing. That's why the Western Governors' Association (WGA) recently asserted that "redundant federal regulation is not required" in regards to the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) rule Oil and Gas; Hydraulic Fracturing on Federal and Indian Lands.

A letter signed by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, WGA Chairman, and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, WGA Vice Chairman, to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell notes:

"Most of the federal and tribal lands where BLM has jurisdiction and where this new federal rule will apply are located in Western states that have a long history of oil and gas production and robust regulations designed to protect the environmental and public health. Because there are often profound differences in geology, ecology, hydrology and meteorology, the states are best equipped to design, administer and enforce laws and regulations related to oil and gas development." Read the letter.

Western Governors have recently also taken action on:

Federal Forest Management (Round 2): WGA recently delivered a second letter to Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack in regards to improved federal forest management. While Secretary Vilsack's response to the governors' initial request highlighted federal programs to reduce hazardous fuels, it did not address several important questions posed by WGA. Read our letter.

Good Samaritan Cleanup: WGA just expressed support for the Good Samaritan Cleanup of Abandoned Hardrock Mines Act of 2013 (S 1443) in a letter to Colorado Sen. Mark Udall. Find out why: Read our letter.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

The word from Gov. John Hickenlooper's Twitter account on Tuesday (Sept. 3) was good in the wake of his hip arthroscopy procedure: "Doc says surgery was a success. Thank you for kind words and well wishes #hiptastic"

So now it's time for a few days of healing at home, then back to work as Colorado Governor and Chairman of the Western Governors' Association.

Perhaps it's no surprise, given the Governor's own quick wit, but before surgery his staff came up with the list "Top 10 Things You Need to Know About the Governor’s Surgery."

We're guessing Gov. Hickenlooper is getting a few smiles from the list, even if the jokes are at his expense. After all, laughter IS the best medicine, right?

We'll give you one of the items: "This puts the governor on injured reserve, but we expect him to be ready by mid season for more Peyton Manning passes."

Read the entire list.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard went skydiving -- really, he went skydiving -- this week to fulfill a charity pledge.

Gov. Daugaard agreed to jump, according to a story in the Argus Leader in Sioux Falls, "as an incentive for the Madison, S.D., Dairy Queen’s annual Miracle Treat Day fundraiser. If the restaurant sold 32,000 Blizzard treats on Aug. 8, the governor and Madison Dairy Queen owner DeLon Mork would skydive at the Madison airport."

In all, 38,500 Blizzards were sold on that day, so the governor fulfilled his pledge on Wednesday (Aug. 28, 2013).

Watch the Governor skydive, which he calls " a rush," in this video.

Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

UPDATE,Sept. 12: An editorial in the Casper Star-Tribune makes the point that the federal government can't "give back" mineral royalties owed to states, since by law it should not have taken them in the first place. Read the editorial. 

Sept. 11: A story in Roll Call by Geof Koss notes the decision to return "sequestered" 2013 mineral royalty payments doesn’t mean states will see the cash any time soon, in part because of how those funds will be disbursed. Read the story. 

Aug. 27: The U.S. Department of Interior has announced it will return "sequestered" 2013 mineral royalty payments to oil and gas producing Western states during the 2014 fiscal year, "assuming no further legislative changes."

The decision, following a legal review, restores significant revenues to Western states: Wyoming ($40 million) New Mexico ($20.8 million and Utah ($6.2 million) alone will receive nearly $70 million in restored payments.

In all, 34 states will receive $110 million in mineral royalty payments, which are collected from companies extracting oil, gas and minerals from federal lands. Other Western states receiving royalty payments include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Texas, Utah and Washington. Read the letter sent to states.

UPDATE, Sept. 8: NBC News reports on a wildfire that ignited Sunday afternoon and grew to 800 acres within just a few hours was threatening the San Francisco bedroom community of Clayton, where state authorities ordered the evacuations of dozens of homes on Sunday night. Story.

Sept. 3: The Associated Press reports that cooler conditions allowed crews to make major progress toward corralling the massive wildfire, which was 70% contained by late Monday, Sept. 2. Read more.

Aug. 29, 2013: The "Rim Fire" around Yosemite National Park is 30% contained and weather conditions appear to favor firefighters. But it could be as long as three weeks before the fire is surrounded and the blaze won't be out for many weeks after that. Learn why. Want to keep up with firefighting efforts? Visit the FireTracker (image above) created by KPCC (89.3 FM).

Aug. 28: The Rim Fire was 20% contained late Tuesday, but The Los Angeles Times also reported that the flames have moved farther into Yosemite National Park. The blaze is "burning its way into the record books," according to a spokesman for the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. Read more.

Aug. 25: The Western wildfire season continues to rage in California, with the Rim Fire posing a threat to a reservoir that supplies a majority of San Francisco's drinking water.

The massive blaze started Aug. 17 and has now burned 144,000 acres, including 11,000 acres of wilderness in Yosemite National Park. As of Sunday (Aug. 25) the fire was within several miles of the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, which provides the majority of San Francisco's drinking water. (See graphic above from Bay Area Water Supply and Conservation Agency.)

Western Governors have joined the Western States Water Council (WSWC) in asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to work with states on rulemaking for the treatment of surplus water in Corps-managed reservoirs.

The Western Governors' Association (WGA) expressed its concern about the Corps rulemaking process in a letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). Read the letter.

WSWC, which represents 18 Western states on water policy, sent a similar letter to the Corps on Aug. 6. Specifically, the WSWC and WGA are concerned that an expanded definition of “stored water” in the Corps rulemaking process could make the natural flows of the river (water that would normally pass through a reservoir if not for a dam) subject to contracts and fees. Such a measure would fail to recognize state authority over management of surface water.

The WGA letter, signed by WGA Executive Director James Ogsbury, asserts: "It is critical that this important undertaking recognize ... Congress’ longstanding deference to state law with respect to the allocation and use of water. Water belongs to the states, which have exclusive and Constitutional authority over its consumptive use and the allocation and adjudication of water rights."

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Gov. Mead’s push to streamline government (8/20): Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead continues to work for more efficient state government, steamlining agency rules, merging departments and more.

BiNational Community Master Plan (8/9): New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez (right) joined Chihuahua Gov. César Duarte and Chihuahua Secretary of the Economy Álvaro Navarro to announce a 70,000 acre, bi-national, master-planned community around the Santa Teresa-San Jeronimo border crossing.

Looking into DM&E obligations (8/8): South Dakota Gov. Dennis Daugaard has asked federal authorities to look into whether Canadian Pacific Railway has lived up to its obligations since its purchase of the Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad. 

Main Street Montana Project (8/7): Gov. Steve Bullock says a new online survey will allow state residents to offer economic development ideas as part of the Main Street Montana Project. Find the survey here.

ENERGY

Baseline Water Testing Initiative (8/16): Gov. Matt Mead thanked all who provided input on Wyoming’s baseline water testing rule and the Wyoming Oil and Gas Conservation Commission has published the draft rule and will take public comments until Oct. 7. 

FORESTS

Now Feds Want To Kill Owls (8/13): Read a piece by Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter decrying U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service plans to spend about $3 million to kill 3,603 barred owls in areas of Oregon, Washington and northern California. 

NATURAL RESOURCES

Bill to protect Salmon habitat (8/15): Gov. John Kitzhaber (right) signed Senate Bill 838 (SB 838) to protect salmon habitat throughout Oregon through reductions in levels of harmful suction dredge gold mining.

Ocean Resources Management Plan (7/25): Gov. Neil Abercrombie has signed the 2013 Hawaii Ocean Resources Management Plan, which brings county, state and federal partners together to ensure the sustainable use and conservation of Hawaii’s ocean and coastal resources.

WATER

Protecting New Mexico Rivers and Watersheds (8/15): Gov. Susana Martinez has announced a plan to protect the health of rivers and watersheds through the New Mexico River Stewards Initiative.

ET CETERA

Federal Overreach Summit (8/12): Gov. Sean Parnell reiterated his commitment to defending Alaska from federal overreach in a speech to the Citizens' Advisory Commission on Federal Areas at which the governor outlined work the State is doing to ensure Alaskans’ rights and freedoms are upheld.

Oklahoma Special Session on lawsuit reform (8/12): Gov. Mary Fallin has called for a special session of the Legislature, to begin Sept. 3,  to re-institute components of House Bill 1603, a comprehensive lawsuit reform package from 2009 struck down this year by the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Oregon criminal sentencing bill (7/25): Gov. John Kitzhaber has signed a bill he hopes will curb the state's prison population. Among other things, the measure reduces sentences for certain drug and property crimes and driving with a suspended license. 

 Get the latest news of the West by following the Western Governors' Association on Twitter and Facebook.

California Gov. Jerry Brown joined Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, former Vice President Al Gore and other politicians on the shore of Lake Tahoe on Monday (Aug. 19) for the 17th annual Lake Tahoe Summit.

The summit addressed a number of issues, including an agreement between Nevada and California on governing the basin that surrounds Lake Tahoe. 

The states also signed a joint wildfire proclamation that pledges continued cooperation to help prevent natural disastes such as the 2007 Angora Fire, which destroyed 254 homes and burned more than 3,000 acres near the lake. Read the proclamation.

The summit provides a good example of how a strong working relationship between two states -- or in the case of the Western Governors' Association, 19 states -- can pay economic and environmental dividends.

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It's safe to say that Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is ready for just about any challenge, but going "deep" for a pass from Denver Broncos' star Peyton Manning?

Gov. Hickenlooper dropped by the NFL team's final day of training camp on Thursday to meet with Manning. That's when the plan was hatched. The governor ran, the quarterback threw ... and the pass was complete! Even if the Governor wasn't exactly wearing the right football gear.

See for yourself in the photos below from the Governor's Facebook page. And read more in this story from the Denver Post.

The Common Core is a set of educational standards for students from kindergarten through high school. The standards focus on critical thinking and analysis, instead of the traditional memorization and formulas, with a goal of ensuring that students largely learn the same things in public schools across the country.

Its supporters, including the Obama administration, are excited to see as it begins to debut in states across the country. But in the early going, at least, the Common Core standards face "growing opposition from both the right and the left," according to a story in The New York Times. Read the story.

If you attended the Education Roundtable at our recent Annual Meeting in Park City, Utah, you had a chance to hear former Colorado Gov. Roy Romer -- who also served as superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District -- discuss why he supports Common Core. 

If you couldn't attend, you can still hear what Romer, now a Special Advisor to The College Board, had to say by watching a video of the session. In addition to Western Governors such as Colorado's John Hickenlooper, Nevada's Brian Sandoval, Idaho's Butch Otter, Utah's Gary Herbert and Montana's Steve Bullock, panelists included Bob Mendenhall of Western Governors' University and Daniel Greenstein of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

VIDEO: Watch the Education Plenary Session.

Governors of five western states have urged the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to approve the Range-wide Conservation Plan for the Lesser Prairie Chicken (RWP) as the key conservation mechanism for the species.

The Lesser Prairie Chicken is found in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. In December of 2012, the USFWS proposed to list the species as “threatened” under the Endangered Species Act.

The Western Governors who signed on to the Aug. 2 letter to USFWS – John Hickenlooper (Colo.), Sam Brownback (Kan.), Mary Fallin (Okla.), Susana Martinez (N.M.), and Rick Perry (Texas) – are instead urging Dan Ashe, the Director of USFWS, to make use of existing public-private partnerships to conserve the species rather than listing the species as threatened. Such a listing can unduly restrict land use and state land management.

Specifically, the Governors point to the RWP, which is the work of wildlife experts who comprised the Lesser Prairie Chicken Interstate Working Group. The Governors want the USFWS to approve the RWP as a conservation enrollment program for the Lesser Prairie Chicken, a step that could preclude the need to list the species as threatened. Recently, the USFWS extended the timeline for final determination of the species’ proposed listing to March of 2014.

The Governors’ letter echoes themes in existing Western Governors’ Association (WGA) policy resolutions, including:

Policy Resolution 11-10, Lesser Prairie Chicken Conservation, which urged a policy of cooperative management among the states to maintain and restore LPC populations while encouraging responsible development;

Policy Resolution 13-08, The Endangered Species Act, which stated that USFWS should enhance the role of state governments in recovering species, such as through the development of conservation plans;

Policy Resolution 13-04, Conserving Wildlife and Crucial Habitat in the West, in which the Governors urged federal agencies to use state fish and wildlife data and analyses as principal sources to inform natural resource decisions.  

The RWP uses state fish and wildlife data for its conservation strategy, including the Southern Great Plains Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (SGP CHAT), which depicts crucial habitat areas for the Lesser Prairie Chicken. Part of the RWP conservation strategy is to use the CHAT to identify areas where habitat improvements should be concentrated.

The SGP CHAT is one of many GIS-tools being developed by Western states that will depict crucial wildlife habitat areas in a single map layer that energy, transmission and land-use planners can use in the beginning stages of project planning. WGA also is supporting development of a Western Governors’ CHAT, which will depict crucial wildlife habitat across the West when it launches this December. 

UPDATE, Aug. 22: The Associated Press is reporting that The U.S. Forest Service plans to take a portion of the timber payments it has promised or paid out to 22 states, citing federal budget cuts. Collection letters from Forest Service Chief Thomas Tidwell went out to 22 governors around the country, saying money would be taken from funds used for habitat improvement and other national forest-related projects that put people to work under the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act. Read the story and see a list of states and the amount of money they are losing.

AUG. 5: The Conference of Western Attorneys General (CWAG) sent a letter to President Barack Obama "strongly" objecting to the "decision to misuse the 2011 Budget Control Act to sequester revenues owed to states under the Minerals Leasing Act (MLA)."

The Western Attorneys General note that the states are "statutorily guaranteed" 48% of all rentals, royalties, and other receipts collected by the federal government for mineral activity on federal lands within state boundaries. The letter was sent Aug. 2 to President Obama, as well as Interior Secretary Sally Jewell, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and Office of Management & Budget Director Sylvia Mathews Burwell.

The CWAG letter follows a May request by the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) to the cabinet members to provide information justifying the position that MLA funds were legally subject to sequestration. In a response to WGA dated July 26, 2013, DOI and OMB took the position that mineral royalties owed to the states are a “federal expenditure” and may be retained by the federal government under the sequester.

The Western Attorneys General call that response "wholly unacceptable ... a profoundly flawed understanding of the relationship between our governments." As CWAG notes: "The revenues owed to the mineral-producing states under the MLA are not a gift, a hand-out, or an entitlement but rather are the result of a compromise reached in 1920 that compensation is due to the states for mineral development within their boundaries."

The Attorneys General go on to note that "the fact that the royalty payments make a stop in the federal treasury before being returned to the states does not convert the royalties into federal money or give the federal government any discretion to decide whether or how much money to return to the states."

The letter also notes that, despite the suggestion that "sequester is often described as a blunt instrument, intended to impose cuts indiscriminately ... in reality sequester is a much more refined tool (that allows) OMB discretion to identify which programs are subject to sequester and which are exempt." 

The Attorneys General conclude: "The failure of the federal government to exempt MLA payments to states from sequestration is arbitrary and capricious ... Reducing the federal budget deficit is a laudable and necessary goal; but it cannot be achieved on the backs of states and with disregard for the principles of federalism."

The letter is signed by Attorneys General from Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.

Read more:

Western Governors' Association sequestration letter

Secretary Jewell's response to WGA

Conference of Western Attorneys General Letter

The Western Governors’ Crucial Habitat Assessment Tool (CHAT), an online GIS map of wildlife habitat across 16 western states designed to help planners in the energy, transportation and land use arenas, is nearing completion.

The Western Governors’ Wildlife Council (WGWC) recently approved design approaches, finalized documents and reviewed strategies to prepare for the public launch of CHAT at the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) Winter Meeting, Dec. 11-12 in Las Vegas.

The Wildlife Council, at its recent summer meeting, also discussed next steps for ensuring that the CHAT serves its intended audience of industry, federal agencies and the public. 

Five state-specific CHATs already are available to the public online in Arizona, California, Montana, Washington, and Wyoming. Additionally, a CHAT displays Lesser Prairie Chicken habitat across its five-state range in Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Texas. State CHATs in Nevada, New Mexico and Oregon will be released later this year. (The CHATs shown here are draft versions.)

The Wildlife Council reviewed its updated White Paper that details the region-wide products and processes used to create compatible crucial habitat layers across state boundaries.  This White Paper (download) also provides background on the Governors' creation of the Council in 2008 and its work to date. 

Representatives from the Department of the Interior, the Bureau of Land Management, the Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Forest Service joined the Wildlife Council for a discussion of next steps to better integrate state wildlife data into federal decision making and other wildlife-related topics.  The federal representatives recognized the CHAT as a tool that could assist with cross-state federal planning efforts.

A full recap of the discussion and action items from the meeting can be downloaded here, or you can learn more about the Wildlife Council and find the council's Work Plan, White Paper and Meeting Summary on the WGA website.

UPDATE: The Denver Post wrote an editorial on Aug. 14 lauding passage of the bills. Read Congress Gives Hydropower a Boost.

AUG. 1:The Senate on Thursday (Aug. 1) unanimously approved a pair of bills aimed at promoting hydropower development backed by Western Governors' Association (WGA).

The bills -- "The Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act" and "The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act" -- will now move on to President Obama's desk for his signature.

The bills authorize and streamline permitting for small conduit hydroelectric projects on Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) owned canals, and authorize and streamline Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) actions on small non-federal conduit hydroelectric projects.

The WGA publicly expressed support for the legislation in April by joining with the Western States Water Council to send a joint letter of support to the Senate's Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. 

"Small hydropower projects represent a significant opportunity to develop a key renewable domestic energy source and create much needed jobs, while minimizing environmental impacts," said the letter, signed by WGA Executive Director James Ogsbury and Water Council Executive Director Tony Willardson.

Read the letter.

The House Appropriations Committee directed federal agencies today (July 31, 2013) in a draft report to use state fish and wildlife data as a principal source to inform agency decision making. That request, in a draft report accompanying the House’s Appropriations Bill for Interior and the Environment, is in line with previous testimony before the committee provided by the Western Governors' Association (WGA).

The committee's draft report highlights the opportunity to save federal funds by maximizing the use of state data and analysis regarding wildlife, and directs agencies to avoid duplicative analysis of raw data previously prepared by the states, who are the primary managers for wildlife within their borders. More broadly, the draft report says that data and analyses from states should be used in land use, land planning, and related natural resource decisions by the Department of the Interior and its bureaus, as well as the U.S. Forest Service.

This recognition of the states’ role as the preeminent authority on wildlife comes after a similar request from WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury during April testimony before the committee. Following Ogsbury’s testimony, four House members (Rep. Herrera Beutler, WA; Rep. Gosar, AZ; Rep. Lummis, WY; and Rep. Daines, MT) and one senator (Sen. Tester, MT) requested for such language to be included.

The draft report, in part, says:

"The Committee is concerned that the agencies are not maximizing the opportunity to save funds on data management, analysis and accessibility that is possible by coordinating with State wildlife agencies, since the State agencies retain primary jurisdiction over most wildlife on Federal, State and private lands. The Committee directs the Federal agencies to cooperatively engage with State wildlife agencies to ensure that they use State fish and wildlife data and analyses as a principal source to inform their land use, land planning and related natural resource decisions. The agencies should not duplicate analysis of raw data previously prepared by the States. Federal agencies should also provide their data to State wildlife managers to ensure that the most complete data is available to be incorporated into all decision support systems."

Learn more on Page 13 of the report.

Anyone who lives in the West knows what a remarkable landscape surrounds us. For those who need a reminder, we suggest you take a look at this marvelous collection of Old West images made by pioneering photographer Timothy O'Sullivan.

This array of photos includes images of Shoshone Falls in Idaho (pictured above), Canyon de Chelly in Arizona, the junction of the Green and Yampah canyons in Utah, even silver mining 900-plus feet below ground.

O'Sullivan worked with Matthew Brady, the famous Civil War photographer often considered the father of moden photojournalism. After the war, he embarked on various expeditions in the West funded by federal agencies to illustrate the all-encompassing beauty.

Take a look at the photos.

Western Governors continue to draw attention from national media outlets.

The latest to earn coverage are New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who is the incoming WGA Vice Chairman.

The  governors earned a close-up look on July 29 from Politico, which covers all things politics both inside and outside Washington, D.C., for managing to "strike the balance that (Republican) party brass say is critical to the party’s future: staying true to the core message of smaller government and lower taxes without alienating Latinos and women on social issues."

The story also notes "both governors now have approval ratings near or above the 60 percent mark, according to polls. A SurveyUSA poll in May showed Martinez with 66 percent approval rating ... and Sandoval had a 58 percent approval rating in a November Public Policy Polling survey.  Read the story.