Despite above-average snowpack, Southwest Colorado remains in a severe drought. U.S. House lawmakers from several Western states, including Rep. Joe Neguse, D-Boulder, are considering a bill that increases the scope of federal grants to combat water scarcity. Access to water is “quite literally a lifeline” that depends on access to strong funding for research and solutions, Neguse said in a House Natural Resources hearing Tuesday. The bill gives state governments, Native American tribes and nonprofit organizations the right to declare drought emergencies and access federal relief funds. States can then use the money to improve groundwater access by drilling wells into aquifers. The new legislation also focuses on wildlife conservation as a vital part of restoring water supplies in the West, said Rep. Xochitl Torres Small, D-N.M. A holistic approach to preserving and restoring water sources means they are less likely to be contaminated by chemicals from farms or businesses, making water safer for the community and the surrounding wildlife, Small said. Climate change causes drought, and wildlife protections help combat climate change, said Rep. Jared Huffman, D-Calif. Without conserving the water resources, they will be depleted, and the water quality will be poor. Small introduced the Western Water Security Act late last year, when the West faced severe dry conditions. To view the full article visit the Durango Herald.
