Dry conditions in the area of Lake Mendocino in Mendocino County following two critically dry years. Photo taken April 20, 2021

April 30, 2024 - FRESNO, Calif. – Congressman Jim Costa (CA-21) and 27 lawmakers representing Western states are calling on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change.

“Drought remains a severe risk for American farmers and ranchers and threatens farmland and local economies that rely on dwindling water resources, especially in states West of the 100th meridian,” wrote the lawmakers. “[T]here is more work to do as the places and people we represent are on the frontlines of climate change. We ask the Department to bring all resources to bear in helping address long-term drought and aridification in the Western United States.”

The lawmakers applaud the administration’s ongoing efforts to support the American West as it faces a 1,200-year drought and the effects of climate change, including through the Western Water and Working Lands Framework and by opening up Inflation Reduction Act funding for additional climate-smart agriculture practices. However, lawmakers are calling for further action to address Western drought through investments in upstream watershed-scale projects, water forecasting, water conservation, and watershed restoration.

“[I]nvestments to comprehensively address both short-term drought recovery and future resilience in the American West must include both smaller-scale on-farm measures and larger-scale upstream watershed restoration and improvements,” the lawmakers continued. “Reliable and sustainable water availability is absolutely critical to any agricultural commodity production in the American West, and swiftly deploying funds to producers and watersheds in our States and Districts is crucial to help them respond to more frequent and severe droughts.”

The letter was led by U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-CO), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Yadira Caraveo (CO-08) and Gabe Vasquez (NM-03).

The text of the letter is available HERE.
Source: Congressman Jim Costa