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A bipartisan group of 12 Western representatives in Congress is calling for emergency funding in response to the record-low water levels being observed at Lake Mead. The Inflation Reduction Act previously provided $4 billion to resolve the Colorado River crisis, and the lawmakers hope to secure a similar amount for this problem. The letter by the representatives follows a recent announcement by the Trump administration that it plans to pay up to $65 million to a water district in Southern California to help maintain water levels at the lake.
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Western Representatives Seek Emergency Funding for Dwindling Lake Mead
Representatives from 12 Western states have requested emergency funds to address the impending historic low water levels of Lake Mead. The bipartisan group, including Rep. Dina Titus, D-Nev., issued a letter to House leadership, highlighting that water security was a national security issue.
“This is an emergency,” said Titus, connecting the current situation to previous funding provided by the Inflation Reduction Act to mitigate similar circumstances. In 2022, the act had directed $4 billion towards the Colorado River crisis.
Previous Federal Efforts to Safeguard Lake Mead
This call for action comes shortly after the Trump administration pledged to subsidize a Southern California water districtup to $65 million. This funding aims to maintain at least 3 feet of water in Lake Mead, which supplies approximately 90% of Southern Nevada’s drinking water. Federal projections, however, indicate that the reservoir willhit record lows in the next two years.
Academics Raise Alarm over Falling Water Levels
Last week, a group of academics confirmed that the combined storage of Lake Mead and Lake Powell is at its lowest since 1957, during the Glen Canyon Dam’s construction. They warned that these levels would likely worsen. Upcoming, the Interior Department is expected to announce how water shortages will be divided among the seven states dependent on the river. Nevada is anticipated to facesignificant cuts in the next two years.
Call for Federal Support
The representatives’ letter urged continued federal support, emphasizing the need for funding towards water reduction efforts, conservation measures, and augmentation projects like ocean desalination. Titus stressed the importance of first securing the funds before deciding on specific projects and their allocation.
Local Agency Supports Call for Funding
The Southern Nevada Water Authority, which endorsed the letter, could leverage federal funding to conserve water. Controversial yet necessary, the agency’s conservation measures often serve as models for other states. High-priority projects include enhancing the Las Vegas Wash system which returns wastewater to Lake Mead and upgrading plumbing to minimize seepage, according to Titus. The authority’s spokesman, Bronson Mack, praised Titus’ efforts and stated that “additional federal support will help ensure continued conservation, system efficiency, and water supply resilience efforts.”
Titus highlighted the diversity of the representatives supporting the letter — they belong to both Upper and Lower Colorado River Basins and span across partisan lines. With the Trump administration’s focus on reducing the federal government’s size and spending, Titus acknowledged that federal funding for drought-relief was not previously considered. However, she is hopeful that the situation is changing. “You see the bathtub rings, and the projections are even worse,” Titus said. “This drought is not going away. We’ve got to do something.”
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