Issue Overview

A complex and inconsistent system of laws, court decisions, and regulations at the state and federal levels is resulting in the mismanagement of critical water resources throughout the Western United States.  The current regulatory framework that governs the movement and storage of water is based upon out-of-date science and a regulatory morass, resulting in the misallocation of precious water resources and a lack of adequate water storage. California is enduring its worst drought in 1,200 years, and a growing number of communities across the West have become impacted by severe drought conditions.These shortcomings are negatively impacting local economies across the Western United States, pose an increasing threat to America’s food security, and have placed undue burdens on our environment. 

Key Legislation

H.R. 2898 – Western Water and American Food Security Act of 2015

Introduced by Rep. David Valadao (CA-21), H.R. 2898 addresses the underlying policy failures that are contributing to increasingly severe drought conditions in communities in California and across the Western United States. (Click here to learn more).

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