Issue Position: Wyoming's Water

Issue Position

The importance of water to Wyoming's future cannot be overstated. Cynthia Lummis recognizes that there is a strong interrelationship between our water quantity and quality and the management of Wyoming's natural resources.

Perhaps more importantly, Cynthia understands that protecting the State of Wyoming's authority to manage its water resources is critical to protecting our agricultural base, wildlife, industries, and communities.

Cynthia knows that the administration and ownership of water is one of the most important States rights issues that she will face in Congress, and she is up to the task. To ensure that Wyoming's water is protected for Wyoming's future:

* Cynthia will oppose any legislation that seeks to federalize Wyoming's water through such things as the "Clean Water Act."

* Cynthia will carefully target funding to the United States Bureau of Reclamation and the United States Geological Survey; agencies that have a long history of providing support for developing water resources for our municipalities and our agricultural industries in Wyoming.

* Cynthia will work to expose the detrimental impacts and unforseen consequences of misguided federal policies, such as the latest effort by a few in Congress to give to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Corps of Engineers jurisdiction over Wyoming's water.

* Cynthia will work closely with the Wyoming State Engineer's Office, the Wyoming Water Development Commission, and the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality to protect Wyoming's water resources and to ensure that Congress and the federal agencies focus their attention on National matters, rather than on usurping Wyoming's authority.

* Cynthia has identified the protection of Wyoming's water and its water rights as one of her top priorities. She has historically and will continue to consult with the top water and legal experts available to ensure that these rights are protected.

Source