The senators—led by Alex Padilla (D-CA), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV)—cautioned against any workforce reductions that could further weaken the Bureau of Reclamation, calling it an "indispensable" agency for water management in the West.
"Reclamation is already a primarily operational rather than regulatory agency, and staff are indispensable to managing water in the West," the letter states, highlighting the agency's role in coordinating with state, tribal, and local authorities. The lawmakers argue that any additional staffing cuts could jeopardize efforts to maintain and improve the complex water systems of the Colorado River Basin, which remain under strain due to persistent drought conditions.
Of particular concern is the funding freeze placed on the Lower Colorado River System Conservation and Efficiency Program, which was established under the Inflation Reduction Act and has been instrumental in preserving water levels in Lake Mead. According to the senators, conservation projects funded through the program in Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024 contributed 1.2 million acre-feet of water, raising Lake Mead’s elevation by 15 feet. Planned projects for 2025 were expected to add another 734,000 acre-feet, increasing the lake’s elevation by an additional 9 feet.
"The entire Colorado River Basin depends on a stable and reliable water supply from Lake Mead," the senators wrote, emphasizing that these efforts were a key factor in securing a historic seven-state agreement in 2024 for interim water management through 2026. The agreement requires Lower Basin states to conserve 3 million acre-feet of water to stabilize the river system. Without continued federal support, these conservation targets are now in jeopardy.
The urgency of restoring funding is heightened by this year’s dry forecast, with projections indicating below-average water supply. The senators underscored that recipients of the conservation program need certainty about the funding they were promised—whether through formal contracts or not—to effectively plan water conservation measures.
The Colorado River remains in a Tier 1 shortage, meaning that water cuts are already in place for states like Arizona and Nevada. Any disruption in conservation funding could exacerbate the strain on the system, affecting water allocations for cities, agriculture, and tribal communities that rely on the river.
The senators have called on Secretary Burgum and the Department of the Interior to take swift action to prevent further setbacks in Colorado River management. Their letter urges Interior officials to rescind the funding freeze and ensure adequate staffing for the Bureau of Reclamation, reinforcing the need for long-term stability in water policy.
"This is not just about today—this is about the future of the Colorado River and the millions of people and businesses that depend on it," said a spokesperson for one of the senators.
With funding uncertainty looming and drought conditions persisting, the question remains: will the federal government act in time to sustain the progress made in stabilizing one of the West’s most vital water resources?
