Gov. Mead said that his focus was in part a result of the impact that ESA has had on western states for decades and a reflection of the fact that western states have shown leadership in species conservation and their habitats. The bipartisan nature of WGA, he added, allows the Western Governors to be well positioned to lead on the issue.

"This is not a Republican issue, it is not a Democratic issue, it is a western issue," he told the audience during the final day of the Annual Meeting.

Habitat conservation, recovery of species, making the law better -- all of these are efforts that Gov. Mead said would be goals for his chairmanship in the coming year.

The governor concluded by inviting the audience to plan ahead for the June 2016 Annual Meeting in his hometown of Jackson, Wyoming.

Gov. Mead takes the gavel from Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, who has served as WGA Chairman for the past year and made the Western Governor's Drought Forum his Chairman’s Initiative. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock will serve as WGA's Vice Chairman.