Senators and representatives from Western states called on the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought.
“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,” the letter says. “We’re asking the administration to bring all resources to bear in helping address the long-term drought and aridification of the Western United States.”
The lawmakers applauded the ongoing efforts by the administration to support the American West as it faces a 1,200-year-level drought, including through the Western Water and Working Lands Framework and by opening up Inflation Reduction Act funding.
“Investments to comprehensively address the 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 letter adds. “Reliable water is critical to any rural community.”