AWE is seeking organizations to sign onto a letter to the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation encouraging the prioritization of proven water efficiency strategies when deciding how to spend $4 billion recently approved by congress for western drought response as part of the Inflation Reduction Act. Congress largely deferred to Reclamation to decide how the money is divided between 1) paying agriculture water users not to use water, 2) water efficiency, and 3) ecosystem restoration.
We fully expect Reclamation to spend funds on all three categories but believe water efficiency should be prioritized given the severity of the western water crisis and that water efficiency is typically the best way to cost-effectively achieve both rapid and lasting water savings. This has the potential to be the largest-ever federal investment in water efficiency. The letter also encourages Reclamation to prioritize water efficiency in spending funds from the Infrastructure bill passed last year.
CLICK HERE to view a draft of the letter.
Please respond to Liam@a4we.org by COB Monday, August 29 to sign the letter. Thank you.
Last modified: August 23, 2022