Need for Essential Data/Collaboration for Practical Policy: Case Study of Collaborative Federalism and Management

The US Forest Service published the Proposed Directive for Groundwater Resource Management in the Federal Register in May, 2014, to set policy for groundwater management and use on USFS lands. It included direction for agency activities, approvals, and authorizations, protection for source waters, water conservation, and procedures for reviewing new applications for groundwater withdrawals on Forest Service lands-- and a provision for continuous measuring and reporting to USFS quarterly, of volumes of water extracted by community water systems (CWS) and high-capacity wells (> 35 gpm) on or near USFS lands. Some states, including members of the Western States Water Council (WSWC) and Western Governors' Association questioned USFS authority to require and agency capacity to review and monitor states' groundwater. During USFS/WSWC conversations, regarding the directive, the parties discussed the extent of the impact the new regulation would have on water users on or near USFS lands, the states, and USFS staff. Given the directive language, tens of thousands of well owners within and adjacent to USFS lands would be required to measure/report well use. Conversations between USFS/WSWC highlight the advantages gained by early and substantial engagement between federal and state agencies with water management responsibilities in the West.