U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ) on Monday relaunched the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus to continue fostering cooperation between the seven Western states impacted by the rapid depletion of the Colorado River.
“The Colorado River is the beating heart of the American Southwest,” Rep. Ciscomani said. “Millions of people in Arizona and six other states depend on it as a source of water for our homes and businesses, our farms and ranches — our way of life.
“The Colorado River Caucus will help us understand and manage this precious resource as we deal with the impacts of a record-breaking drought that has lasted more than two decades,” added the congressman. “Collaboration is key and that’s the goal of this bipartisan caucus.”
Rep. Ciscomani will co-chair the caucus with U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO) and plans to advocate for a solution among Arizona, Colorado, California, Nevada, New Mexico, Wyoming, and Utah with efficient conservation measures that preserve water rights across the board, according to information provided by his staff.
In total, the Colorado River provides to more than 40 million residents across the seven Western Basin states and supports a $15-billion agricultural industry.
The Colorado River Caucus, first launched during the previous Congress, is supported by the Environmental Defense Fund, the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, and Trout Unlimited, among others.