Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John Curtis (R-UT), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), John Barrasso (R-WY), Michael Bennet (D-CO), and Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), along with Representative Harriet Hageman (R-WY), reintroduced the Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act—bipartisan, bicameral legislation to extend the System Conservation Pilot Program (SCPP) through 2026. The SCPP was established to support innovative water conservation projects to combat the drought across the Colorado River Basin.
“Over one-fourth of the water in Utah comes from the Colorado River, and 60% of Utahns benefit directly from it,” said Senator Curtis. “Our legislation enables Upper Colorado River Basin States like Utah to continue conservation efforts to maintain the River’s vitality—which is essential to supporting our farmers, providing water for our communities, keeping our economy strong, and supporting the environment.”
“The Colorado River’s survival depends on our ability to adapt to a drier future,” said Senator Hickenlooper. “With SCPP, we spend less time hand wringing, and more energy finding innovative ways to conserve the West’s most precious resource.”
“Wyoming and other Colorado River Basin states have worked together to conserve water in the Colorado River system. Programs like the System Conservation Pilot Project provide our farmers and ranchers with resources to conserve water in the Colorado River and lakes they depend on,” said Senator Barrasso. “Our bipartisan legislation extends these important programs to help address drought issues across our states.”
“As drought wreaks havoc on the Colorado River system, Colorado and Upper Basin states are doing their part and stepping up to conserve real water,” said Senator Bennet.
“The west leads the nation in cutting-edge water conservation and management practices,” said Senator Lummis.“Forward-thinking approaches like the System Conservation Pilot Project delivers critical water conservation resources to ranchers and farmers throughout the Cowboy State, and I am excited to partner with my colleagues across the aisle to protect Wyoming communities by continuing this successful program.”
“The SCPP is essential to exploring alternative methods to severe water regulation during droughts for the citizens of Wyoming,” said Representative Hageman. “It is critical that we reauthorize this program and continue exploring hydrological conditions in the Upper Basin.”
Background:
The Colorado River Basin Conservation Act reauthorized the System Conservation Pilot Program through 2024. Since the Bureau of Reclamation’s authorization to spend SCPP funds expired in December, funding for the program must be renewed in 2025 for it to continue.
The Colorado River Basin System Conservation Extension Act extends the pilot program through 2026 as Colorado River Basin states, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and other stakeholders continue discussions on potential long-term water management once current operational rules expire in 2026. The pilot program will help the Upper Basin examine water management strategies that can help water users manage prolonged and severe drought.
Full text of the legislation is available here.
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