Senator Romney Delivers Critical water Funding
May 2, 2022: Utah Senator Mitt Romney supported the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act last year and right now it is resulting in significant funding to help Utah with much needed water projects, drought resilience, and wildfire mitigation efforts as Utah and the West are in the midst of a 22 year long drought.
WHY IS IS THE FUNDING NEEDED?
This funding for water projects, drought resilience, and wildfire mitigation, will be crucial for Utah as the state continues to face a 22 year “megadrought.”
For the second year in a row, Governor Spencer Cox has issued an Emergency Drought Declaration.
Utah’s reservoirs are currently at 59% of capacity statewide and snowpack levels are only at 70% of normal for this time of year.
The U.S. Drought Monitor lists 44% of the state in Extreme Drought status and the rest of the Utah is in Severe Drought status.
WHAT WILL BE FUNDED?
$300 million to fund outstanding Emergency Watershed Program needs for post-fire recovery and wildfire mitigation;
$219 million to Utah for water revolving funds over five years through the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program & Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.
$50 million for Central Utah Project Completion Act: Provides water for municipal use, mitigation, hydroelectric power, fish and wildlife, and conservation;
$500 million for the Western Area Power Administration for drought-related shortfalls;
$100 million for drought contingency plan funding;
$1 billion for the FEMA Building Resilient Infrastructure Communities (BRIC) program for pre-disaster mitigation, including wildfire and drought projects; and
$214 million to fully fund the Navajo Utah Water Rights Settlement: Legislation to bring running water to the 40% of Navajo Nation in Utah who lack it.