Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon

Wyden, Merkley Introduce Bill to Protect Agricultural Water Access Amid Worsening Drought in Oregon

Legislation would help upgrade outdated water infrastructure systems to support agriculture

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley today introduced legislation that would help improve water resilience in communities across Oregon and the West as drought in the region persists after last year's record-low snowpack.

"Water scarcity in the West isn't a question of if, it's when," Wyden said. "The federal government needs to get serious about protecting water resources before it's too late, and my legislation will help Oregon's farmers and producers remain even more resilient against growing drought conditions."

"As climate chaos fuels hotter and drier summers, we must ensure that we have reliable, resilient water infrastructure that every farmer, Tribe, and community in our state can count on," said Merkley, whose Deschutes River Conservancy Reauthorization Act is included in this bill. "Passing this bill will provide more opportunities for crucial investments and innovative solutions to support communities facing persistent drought conditions."

The Western Water Reinvestment Act would improve water access for agriculture and conservation by supporting projects that improve dam safety, create more resilient watersheds and benefit agricultural and urban water users.

Most regions of Oregon have just one-third of their average annual snowpack, and many parts of the state remain under extreme drought conditions.

Legislative text is here.