Exploring Solutions for the Western Water Crisis

Troubled Water: Crapo Applauds Consensus

By John Yewell, 4-20-05

	Sen. Crapo

Click here to read the full dispatch from the Boise State Conference, titled: "Troubled Water -- Exploring Solutions for the Western Water Crisis."

The "Troubled Water" conference at Boise State University led off this morning with a satellite hook-up this morning with Idaho U.S. Senator Mike Crapo.

Since 1866, said Sen. Crapo, the federal government has had a policy of generally deferring to states on water policy. But that is not how it has played out in reality. He expressed concern about the gradual increase in federal involvement, although he spoke approvingly of many of the ways that involvement has occurred. He cited four general areas:

1) The Stick: The federal government has played a regulatory role, not so much in allocation as in quality and quantification. He cited the Endangered Species Act, the Clean Water Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the Wild and Scenic Rivers.

2) The Carrot: It has provided incentives for environmental and conservation efforts, such as in the preservation of wetlands and the Conservation Reserve Program.

3) Research and Support, such as the collection of data by the U.S. Geological Survey. He said legislation has been introduced to create a national council to prepare for drought and provide for relief if necessary.

4) Financial Support, such as disaster and drought relief.

Sen. Crapo went on to stress that unless state and local governments found ways to find consensus, solutions would be imposed by the federal government, and that would mean the involvement of interests from the vast population of the U.S. that lives east of the Mississippi.

"We are now seeing with the drought, how will we in the West deal with it? What is the federal role? I’m in agreement with direction of the conference, that we must focus on developing collaborative and consensus decisions. ... If we don’t, Congress is going to play some kind of role, history has shown that."

He cited a recent agreement between Nez Perce tribe and Idaho over allocating Snake River water, which relies on federal money. But with negotiations underway with some 20 other tribes over water, he cautioned about relying on the federal budget to play a role in resolving all disputes. Outside of entitlements and national defense, the rest of the budget is either flat or shrinking. "I don’t thing we should start down a road that says the federal government [should take the lead in] every collaborative effort."

One questioner asked Sen. Crapo whether the Endangered Species Act could be modified to discourage citizen lawsuits. Sen. Crapo replied that it was unlikely there was political consensus to restrict lawsuits per se, but that he was active in working to reform the Act.

"In the Endangered Species Act reform we are working with broad stakeholder groups to find what is doable. I don’t think I have seen real likelihood that we’ll be able to change the citizen suits provision." But he said that there was some consensus on changes in the areas of the Act from which many lawsuits arise. areas. He did not elaborate.

A reporter from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer asked if the current administration, given the water crisis, can afford to continue a policy of doubt and denial on climate change. Sen. Crapo essentially punted.

"I wouldn’t characterize the administration position that way," he said, and then went on to claim that the Bush’s energy plan would address the issue. "It’s not refusing to recognize the problem, it’s just a difference over how," he said.

Several audience members inquired into the state of Sen. Crapo’s health. He recently finished an eight week regimen of radiation treatments for a recurrence of cancer. Five years ago Sen. Crap was diagnosed with cancer of the prostate, which was removed surgically at the time.

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