Since 2013, WGA has expressed concerns – through comments, letters, and congressional testimony – regarding the impact on state authority over water of proposals by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to regulate the natural flows of rivers with Corps reservoirs on them.

“This is a significant win for states, and for state authority over water resources,” noted Jim Ogsbury, Executive Director of WGA.  “The proposed rule would have interfered with states’ primary authority to manage and allocate water resources within their boundaries. The Administration’s withdrawal of the proposed rule recognizes the primacy of state authority and state water law.”

WGA sent a letter signed by Ogsbury expressing support for the announced withdrawal to R.D. James, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, USACE. The outreach also noted that Western Governors “look forward to continuing to work with you to strengthen state-federal partnerships and to ensure that all Corps reservoirs are operated in compliance with state and federal law.”

Read the letter.

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