A Federal Advisory Committee

Purpose:  The purpose of the Western Water Cooperative Committee (WWCC) is to ensure that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) flood control projects in the Western States, are operated consistent with congressional directives by identifying opportunities to avoid or minimize conflicts between the operation of USACE projects and water rights and water laws in such States.  The eighteen (18) Western States are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

The WWCC shall develop and make recommendations to avoid or minimize conflicts between the operations of USACE projects and the water rights and water laws of Western States. However, in carrying out its duties, the WWCC shall make recommendations that only apply to Western States; and shall ensure that any recommended changes or modifications to policy or regulations for USACE projects would not adversely affect water resources within the State of Missouri.

Membership:  The WWCC shall be composed of:

1. The Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works (or a designee);
2. The U.S. Army’s Chief of Engineers (or a designee);
3. One representative from each of the 18 Western States, who may serve on the Western States Water Council, to be appointed by the Governor of each State;
4. One representative with legal experience from each of the 18 Western States, to be appointed by the Attorney General of each State; and
5. One employee from each of the impacted regional offices of the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) as determined by the BIA

Authorization: The WWCC was established under section 8158(a)(1) of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263) and in accordance with chapter 10 of title 5, U.S.C. (commonly known as the Federal Advisory Committee Act or FACA) and 41 C.F.R. § 102-3.50(a).

Approval: The WWCC Charter was approved in February 2025.

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 Committee Meetings

 

Upcoming Meetings

Thursday, September 4, 2025

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. EDT

Virtual Committee meeting

Meeting invite link: https://dod.teams.microsoft.us/l/meetup-join/19%3adod%3ameeting_b49792bbf7034cb88ac723ac1b88a803%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22fc4d76ba-f17c-4c50-b9a7-8f3163d27582%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%2299cde44b-1c8f-4307-9c18-05bbfdb69e88%22%7d

Meeting ID:  993 322 550 090

Passcode:  Zk77NX2Z

Dial in by Phone:  +1 503-207-9433, 

Phone Conference ID#:  168 930 706#

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. Committee Members
3. Federal Advisory Committee Act (FACA) and Designated Federal Officer (DFO) Role
4. Committee Authorization
5. Committee Chair and Vice-Chair
6. Discuss meeting date, location, logistics for in-person meeting this Fall
7. Process for determining agenda items
8. Public comment period

 Past Meetings