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The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee recently grappled with the challenges of the severe drought that has been plaguing the western portion of the U.S. for the past decade. Lack of rainfall coupled with millions of dead and dying trees also exacerbate the wildfire risk throughout the region.
Pending legislation in the House and Senate would facilitate water withdrawals, help the private sector clean out the dead wood on public lands and fund operational research into storage, water recycling and desalinization technology.
Senator Lisa Murkowski, Chair of the Committee, made it clear that there is no silver bullet to resolve these very complex issues but that there are many common-ground solutions that can be achieved through a bipartisan legislative process.