Western Farmers Urge Lawmakers to Address Water Challenges

More than 100 organization representing Western U.S. agriculture are urging Congress to use infrastructure legislation to address Western water challenges.  The groups said, “existing water infrastructure in the West is aging and in need of rehabilitation and improvement.”

President Trump has said infrastructure might be one area that both political parties in the 116th Congress can agree upon.  The Democratic Party’s to-do list also includes an ambitious infrastructure program.  California Farm Bureau President Jamie Johansson said, “many California water users will still face water shortages in 2019,” despite an above average snowpack, highlighting the need for reforms.

Oregon Representative Peter DeFazio, was one of the recipients of the letter.  The western Oregon Democrat now chairs the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, where he intends to lead efforts to produce a multi-billion-dollar infrastructure bill to fund transportation and water projects.  The letter underscores that water conservation, water recycling, watershed management, conveyance, desalination, water transfers, groundwater storage and surface storage are all needed in a diversified management portfolio.

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