Senator received update on Arizona’s response to worsening drought conditions in the Lower Colorado River Basin
Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law invested $250 million for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to create or conserve 100,000-acre feet of water annually for the Lower Colorado River Basin at Lake Mead
WASHINGTON – Arizona senior Senator Kyrsten Sinema received an update on Arizona’s response to the worsening drought conditions in the Lower Colorado River Basin from the Arizona Water Conservation District and the Arizona Department of Water Resources.
“I’m grateful for today’s briefing as we address the increasingly alarming drought conditions in the Lower Colorado River Basin, and I’ll continue working to find solutions strengthening Arizona’s water security and future, including the historic investments delivered from our bipartisan infrastructure law,” said Sinema.
Sinema’s briefing included updates on the need for additional water conservation, impact on water prices, and potential ideas on augmenting the Lower Colorado River Basin’s water supply, and continue to work with the Bureau of Reclamation to release the historic Western Water funding in Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law.
The Lower Colorado River is currently in Tier 1 drought. The U.S. Department of Interior and all seven states of the Colorado River Basin recently agreed to hold back 480,000-acre feet of water releases from Lake Powell to Lake Mead, and to release additional water from Upper Basin Reservoirs into Lake Powell, in an emergency action to preserve the level of Lake Powell and operations at Glen Canyon Dam.
Maintaining the levels Lake Powell and Lake Mead – the nation’s largest reservoirs – is critical to Arizona’s water future and energy generation across the West. The actions being taken at Lake Powell and future conservation efforts at Lake Mead are important steps in protecting the Colorado River, and Arizona continues to lead the Basin in proactively responding to drought conditions. Sinema remains committed to working with Arizona state agencies, federal partners, and the rest of the Colorado River Basin to provide solutions for Arizona families and businesses.
Sinema’s bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law invests in strengthening and upgrading critical water systems and addressing drought – with $250 million for the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to create or conserve 100,000-acre feet of water annually for the Lower Colorado River Basin at Lake Mead. Learn more HERE.