USGS Introduces Web-Searchable Database ofEnvironmental MethodsOn the 30th Anniversary of the CleanWater Act, the U.S. Geological Surveyannounced a new standardized, web-searchable database of environmentalmethods called the NationalEnvironmental Methods Index (NEMI).The database will allow professionals whomonitor water quality to compare datacollection methods at a glance and find themethod that best meets their needs. Thetool also allows monitoring data to beshared among different agencies andorganizations that use different methods atdifferent times. The database wasdeveloped in conjunction with the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency andother partners in the federal, state, andprivate sectors. The NEMI databasecontains method summaries of lab andfield protocols for regulatory and non-regulatory water quality analyses. To date,

NEMI contains more than 600 chemical,physical, and microbiological methods.For each method, NEMI provides asummary of the procedures andperformance data needed to assessimplementation requirements.

For more information or to use the database, visit www.nemi.gov.

Info on USGS RemediationProjects Available Online A new series of Web pages is availablecontaining information on U.S.Geological Survey (USGS) projects andactivities related to the remediation ofcontaminated sites. The projects arecategorized both by type, includingtesting of remediation technologies,natural attenuation evaluation,performance monitoring, and sitecharacterization; and by contaminant.This is the first time that this USGSinformation has been available in one place.

The series of web pages and links issponsored by the USGS's ToxicSubstances Hydrology Program.

Visit toxics.usgs.gov/topics/remediation.html.

Arizona Department of WaterResources Revamps DrillingPermits, Licensing ProceduresIn December, the Arizona Department ofWater Resources (ADWR) planned tounveil its new online applicationprocedure for permits for drillingmonitoring and domestic wells, whichaccount for approximately 70 percent ofthe 8,000 new wells drilled per year in thestate. When the application is up andrunning, licensed well drillers will be ableto log on to a secure site, fill out theappropriate well design and locationinformation, affirm that the well meetslocal zoning requirements, provide a creditcard number, and print out anauthorization to drill. The original paper

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version of the Notice of Intent to Drill isstill available, but the wait forauthorization is, and will continue to belong, due to extensive budget cuts and lossof personnel.

After the well is drilled, drillers are stillrequired to submit the driller’s log andwell completion report to ADWR. Untilthat paperwork is processed, the well willnot be legally permitted or assigned aregistration number. ADWR personnelwill review the completion reports andenter the information into the Web-accessible database.

ADWR licenses between 280 and 320drillers in the state each year. Thelicensing procedure consists of a writtentest for the initial license and a yearly feethereafter. Fall 2002 budget cutseliminated the ADWR licensingdepartment, but that does not meanlicensing will no longer occur. ADWR iscurrently exploring options for out-sourcing the testing and renewal procedureand has until June 30, when licensesexpire each year, to come up with asolution. The agency is also looking intoalternative ways to test new drillers priorto June 30.

For more information, visit www.adwr.state.az.us

Metropolitan Water Districtand Palo Verde Farmers Reach Agreement on Water Transfer ProgramOn Oct. 22, California's MetropolitanWater District (MWD) announced that itsboard of directors finalized a long-termprogram with farmers in the Palo VerdeValley. The agreement states that thefarmers agree to set aside a portion oftheir land, rotate their crops, and transfersaved water to urban Southern Californiaon an annual basis.

Metropolitan's board authorized thedistrict to pursue agreements withindividual farmers in the Palo VerdeIrrigation District that will secure 8 to 36billion gallons of additional water eachyear for 17 million Southern Californians.Under the approved program, Palo Verde

Valley farmers will stop irrigating from 7to 29 percent of their land in any year atthe request of Metropolitan, making25,000 to 111,000 acre-feet of wateravailable for urban consumers.

The land taken out of production will bemaintained and rotated once every one tofive years. The maximum amount offarmland taken out of production in anyyear will be 26,500 acres. For each acreset aside as part of the program, farmerswill receive a one-time payment of $3,170for signing up and $550 annually.

Ronald R. Gastelum, Metropolitan's chiefexecutive officer, said "This crystallizesMetropolitan's resolve to assure that theCalifornia plan continues to make progresstoward allocating water from the ColoradoRiver between the cities and agriculturalareas and preventing future lawsuits overColorado River water entitlements."

Visit www.mwd.dst.ca.us/mwdh2o/

California Governor Signs Billto Prohibit Nuclear Dump Site On Sept. 12, California Governor GrayDavis signed bill AB 2214, which limitsthe Department of Health Services (DHS)from issuing or renewing a license for thedisposal of low-level radioactive wasteunless the siting, design, construction,operation and closure of the facility meetsspecified federal and state requirements.According to this bill, DHS will make that determination.

AB 2214 also prohibits a facility fromdisposing low-level radioactive waste

using shallow land burial. Furthermore, itprohibits the proposed Ward Valleyradioactive waste disposal site fromserving as the State's facility for theSouthwestern Low-Level RadioactiveWaste Commission. The Commission,which consists of Arizona, California,North Dakota, and South Dakota, wascreated by Public Law 100-712 in 1988. Itskey duties include controlling theimportation and exportation of low-levelwaste into and out of the region. TheCommission has no authority over disposalfacility siting, which is the responsibilityof the host state of California.

For more information, visit www.leginfo.ca.gov/. The Commission’s Web site is www.swllrwcc.org

Texas Outlines Legal Positionon U.S.-Mexico Water TreatyOn Oct. 30, the Texas Commission onEnvironmental Quality (TCEQ) releasedTexas' position on the legal status of the1944 Utilization of Waters Treaty betweenthe United States and Mexico.

In exchange for 1.5 million acre-feet,which the United States is obligated todeliver each year from the Colorado Riverto Mexico, the United States is entitled toan annual average minimum of 350,000acre-feet from treaty tributaries beforeMexico's entitlement to any water. Underthe 1944 treaty, the United States iscredited one-third of the water that reachesthe main channel of the Rio Grande fromthe Conchos, San Diego, San Rodrigo,Escondido and the Salado rivers, and fromthe Las Vacas Arroyo. Mexico receivestwo-thirds of that water.

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approximately Nov. 15 and April 15 ofmost years. Seeding is only possible ifthere are clouds present that mightproduce rain. While the most effectiveseeding occurs during moderately wetyears, some level of cloud seeding isconducted most years.

Best Results in Wet YearsRecent statistical studies comparing rainfallnormals inside the target areas to thoseoutside them suggest that seeding results in amaximum increase in precipitation of about20% over one rain season. This statistictranslates to thousands of acre feet ofadditional water captured for storage in localreservoirs. In a moderately wet year withideal seeding conditions, which occurred in1992-93, approximately 20,000 acre feet ofwater was generated through cloud seeding.The moderate El Niño conditions predictedfor this winter may well result in ideal cloudseeding conditions.

The County has applied for a grant fromthe U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to performa chemical tracer study to better track thehuman-enhanced precipitation.

Controlling the Rainfall Santa Barbara County hydrologists use anetwork of rain and stream flow gagestogether with predictive computer modelsto prevent potential problems such asexcessive rainfall or rainfall occurring in

areas not intended. A set of suspensioncriteria is established every year thatspecifies conditions under which seedingmay be conducted. For example, all seedingis suspended in the areas recently burnedby wildfires, because those areas aresensitive to excessive soil erosion that canlead to landslides. Seeding can resumewhen hydrologists and others havedetermined that there is no longer anydanger of landslides or other adverseerosion impacts. The program is under theconstant supervision of a certifiedmeteorologist who uses real-time radar andsatellite imagery to monitor stormprogression and rainfall.

Cost Is JustifiedThe cost of the annual cloud seedingprogram is shared among the county andthe water districts that receive a benefitfrom it. The parties involved believe thecost is well-justified when compared to itsbenefits. The average cost of waterproduced by cloud seeding is less than$100 per acre foot. By comparison, the costof State-supplied water on the South Coastis roughly $1200 per acre foot. Desalinatedseawater costs approximately $1950 peracre foot. Groundwater and water fromLake Cachuma average between $75 and$250 per acre foot. Cloud seeding is one ofthe least expensive sources of wateravailable to the county.

Visit www.countyofsb.org/pwd/water for more infomation.

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"However, that general formula issuperseded by the specific provision thatthe United States is entitled to an averageof at least 350,000 acre-feet annually incycles of five consecutive years," saidTCEQ Chairman Robert J. Huston. "TheTreaty provides Mexico no comparableminimum guaranteed entitlement."

Since 1992, Mexico has been inmaterial breach of the Treaty. For twoconsecutive five-year cycles (1992-1997and 1997-2002), it has fallen short ofminimum delivery obligations. The debtfor the two cycles is approximately 1.5million acre-feet.

"Mexico's argument that the 1992-1997deficit has been satisfied in thesubsequent cycle does not comport toany reading of the Treaty or lateragreements," Huston said. "Even undera tortured reading of the Treaty andMinute agreements, under whichdeliveries from sources other than theTreaty Tributaries are credited to the1992-1997 cycle, that cycle's deficit stillwould be more than 330,000 acre-feet.

"Since it is not a party to the Treaty,Texas has no legal remedy againstMexico for damage to its citizens,"Huston said. "But the United States hasextensive options, and we re-urge theState Department to consider those. TheUnited States can terminate the treaty.The United States can withhold itsperformance under the treaty, namely,deliveries of water from the ColoradoRiver to Mexico. The United States caninsist that Mexico pay the debt from anywater sources within Mexico's control."

Visit 163.234.20.106/AC/comm_exec/communication/media/mexico-treaty_position.html

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