WY: Governor Geringer Addresses National Water Policy Forum on New Environmental Doctrine -19-Sep-00





	State

	WY: Governor Geringer Addresses National Water Policy Forum on New Environmental Doctrine 19-Sep-00 Reprinted from the WY Governor's Office Chicago, IL --Wyoming Governor Jim Geringer today addressed a group of the nation's water resources policy leaders on Enlibra, a new doctrine for environmental management, at the Interstate Council on Water Policy (ICWP) 2000 Annual Meeting in Chicago. Geringer explained how Enlibra, developed by the Western Governors' Association, is already working in Wyoming and other parts of the country. Enlibra is a shared doctrine seeking to resolve issues by relying on greater participation in decision-making, focusing on outcomes rather than just programs and recognizing the need for a variety of tools beyond regulation to improve environmental and natural resource management. "Enlibra is a new way to develop policies that protect the heritage and the traditions of our country, particularly, the West, and still allow the kind of development that will maintain our region's extraordinary quality of life," Geringer said. "Beltway-driven mandates and orders are not working. We need to try working together at the most local level, because cooperation will result in improved natural resources." Geringer listed the cooperation between federal, state and local efforts to improve Muddy Creek, a south central Wyoming tributary to the Colorado River, as example where Enlibra principles worked in Wyoming. "What started as a University of Wyoming investigation on sediment transport in high-elevation ephemeral streams grew into an extensive conservation effort involving local citizens, conservation districts, county commissioners, federal agencies, state agencies and environmental organizations," Geringer said. "Today we have greatly improved over 125 miles of stream in that high dessert watershed," Geringer said. "In addition, the Muddy Creek group assisted in the reintroduction of the endangered Colorado Cutthroat Trout in the upper reaches of the Muddy Creek drainage. This would not have been possible without the knowledge and experience we gained from working together---scientists, ranchers, local, state and federal agencies alike." Wyoming has six major river basins that have interrelationships with other states affecting water supplies in the nation. Again, Enlibra principles have helped. "Results of Enlibra working can be seen in the Bear River Basin, where an interstate water quality committee has been successful in getting EPA to agree that the Denver region should take the lead on all issues covering the Bear River basin, to alleviate the problem of getting different answers from two different regions," Geringer said. "In the Colorado River Basin, the Salinity Control Program is another shining example of how Enlibra can work. The conversion of flood irrigation to sprinkler application in the Eden-Farson area has resulted in the reduction of salt loading to the Colorado River system of 52,900 tons per year." The Tongue River Basin, where local watershed groups have been created to address critical water quality issues through neighborhood solutions, and the development of the Missouri River Basin plan by the Missouri River Basin Association, represent successful examples of how the Enlibra Principles can improve Wyoming's, and the nation's water quality efforts. The Enlibra doctrine was created in 1997 by the Western Governors' Association and has been endorsed by the National Governors' Association. The ICWP endorsed the Enlibra Principles during the group's Annual Meeting last year in Pittsburgh. Governor Geringer's comments at the annual meeting help carry out ICWP's commitment to work with the Western Governors Association and others to move the Enlibra principles forward. Each of the states throughout the country are involved in ongoing programs that support a watershed oriented approach to water protection and management. For the past forty years, the ICWP has represented state and regional governments in advocating sound water management throughout the country at the state and federal levels. In recent years a national focus on basin and watershed management has taken place. As part of this focus ICWP has developed a National Water Policy Charter and a set of broad principles. ICWP recognizes the importance of existing interstate river basin organizations in delivering a variety of programs and services at the watershed level on an efficient and cost-effective basis to their member states. Wyoming through the State Engineer's Office has been a participant in ICWP for over 15 years.Wyoming currently holds a position on the Board of Directors. Core to both the ICWP National Water Policy Charter and the Enlibra Principles is a base foundation for protection water resources and shaping the collective roles of federal, state, regional, and local organizations for the 21st Century. This foundation includes the following commitments to: Manage water for long-term goals, recognizing both human needs and the health of water-dependent ecosystems. Manage ground and surface water as an integrated system, by hydrologic units, including both quality and quantity and considering all phases of the water cycle. Realign government roles and responsibilities for water management, shifting responsibility and authority from the federal government to states, regional agencies, and local government where appropriate. Improve government performance, recognizing, consolidating, and integrating government water programs to increase their effectiveness and responsiveness to the public. Set water management priorities based on relative risk, considering the costs and benefits of management actions. Recognize and include all affected interests in water policy making. Emphasize water management program results, not the bureaucratic process. Use economic and other incentives, wherever feasible, to achieve water management objectives. Increase awareness and improve the quality of public dialogue on water issues. For more information contact: Rachel Girt, Press Secretary (307) 777-7437.




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