Senator met with two groups – the Roosevelt Water Conservation District and the Irrigation & Electrical Districts Association of Arizona – to discuss solutions to Arizona’s water crisis
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema met with two Arizona irrigation groups – the Roosevelt Water Conservation District and the Irrigation & Electrical Districts Association of Arizona – to discuss solutions to Arizona’s water crisis and the Senator’s work in securing historic drought relief funds for the Southwest.
“As Arizona continues to experience record drought conditions, we’re not wasting any time developing lasting solutions. Bringing together experts helps us produce a regional plan that solves all aspects of our water crisis, and I look forward to continuing our partnership as we work to secure Arizona’s water future,” said Sinema.
During the meeting, Sinema spoke about her ongoing efforts to bring Arizona stakeholders and partners from other Colorado River Basin states together to formulate a regional plan that provides a holistic solution to the American West’s water crisis and solutions for electricity customers being affected by the drought’s impact on hydropower.
The Senator has been actively working with Arizona partners to identify solutions helping mitigate the impact of Western drought in Arizona. Sinema personally secured $4 billion in Western water drought resiliency during negotiations of the Inflation Reduction Act – ensuring the legislation included adequate climate resources to secure Arizona’s water and economic future. Following Sinema’s success, the Gila River Indian Community offered 750,000 acre-feet of water conservation over the next three years.
Last year, Sinema launched a Water Advisory Council of Arizona water experts from agriculture, tribal, conservation, academic, and business communities across Arizona. In October, Sinema convened her third Water Advisory Council meeting, during which members of the Council discussed next steps for new funding opportunities from the $4 billion investment in drought mitigation Sinema personally secured in the Inflation Reduction Act.
Between Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law and the Inflation Reduction law she shaped, the Senator has secured more than $13 billion in drought relief and Western water funding.