Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act
Floor Speech
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Mr. CALVERT. Mr. Speaker, I thank the ranking member for yielding.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 2030, the Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan Authorization Act. The Colorado River is a critical source of water for approximately 19 million people in the southern California region. After 19 years of drought on the Colorado, Lake Mead is near critical levels. If no action is taken, it is estimated that by 2021, Lake Mead could reach critically low elevations where basic reservoir operations and water deliveries become impossible.
We are here today because of the tremendous leadership of the seven Colorado River Basin States, the water users throughout the basin. Traditionally, the shared water resources of the Colorado River have been managed through consensus and collaboration, and the drought contingency plan, or DCP, is no exception.
Water users throughout the basin agree to voluntary conservation measures that protect existing water rights in order to protect the water supplies of Lake Powell and Lake Mead for the foreseeable future.
I want to commend the bill's sponsor for working to ensure that the Salton Sea is protected under this legislation. DCP was developed with input from stakeholders throughout the basin, including water users, Tribal leaders, and environmental groups. California holds the senior water rights in the lower basin. In the short term, though, California may have the most water security during this historic drought, but water leaders in my region recognize the importance of protecting Lake Mead now to preserve southern California's long-term water supply reliability.
Mr. Speaker, I want to extend a special thanks to Jeff Kightlinger for his tireless efforts on behalf of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California to get this historic deal across the finish line. If not for his work over the last several years, we would not be here today.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
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