Cantwell Calls For Federal Support of Water Projects

With warmer temperatures returning to the Northwest this week, and already dry conditions, many are preparing for worsening drought conditions.

“The most recent seasonal drought map definitely put us in the bullseye, as far as that brown area, and it’s no secret that that then is an overlay to some of the challenges we face in fire season as well," said Washington senator Maria Cantwell

During a Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources hearing Thursday, Washington’s junior senator addressed water storage and conservation.  She said the federal government must do more to support water projects, such as the Yakima Basin Integrated Plan.  Cantwell said in addition to Yakima there is a host of other projects nationwide that have enjoyed success and reserved water, or stretched limited water resources.

She asked the question, how do you get word out about the success of these projects to conserve water, hopefully getting more people to support them?  She said there needs to be robust federal support programs for efforts.

“So people are incented on smart water or on restoration and you know, doing a better job on coordination.”

Cantwell noted with these dry conditions, and additional strains on water, the challenge Americans are facing is great.

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