Utah Valley Times

U.S. Senators Mitt Romney and Michael Bennet, along with Representatives Celeste Maloy, John Curtis, Joe Neguse, and Yadira Caraveo, have introduced the Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act, a bipartisan legislation aimed at helping communities and water users protect their water supply after natural disasters on U.S. Forest Service (USFS) lands. The bill seeks to create a new Emergency Forest Watershed Program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which will streamline recovery efforts and protect life, private property, and water resources downstream of America's national forests.

Senator Romney, one of the bill's sponsors, highlighted the need for a program to streamline the funding process for water resource restoration on USFS land. He cited the challenges faced by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District during the recovery efforts from the Dollar Ridge Fire in 2018. Senator Bennet emphasized the importance of collaboration between local water managers and the U.S. Forest Service in restoring the health of watersheds following natural disasters.

Representative Maloy, another sponsor of the bill, pointed out the threat that wildfires pose to Utah communities and their water supply. She believes that the new Emergency Forest Watershed Program will play a crucial role in protecting Utah's private property and water resources on U.S. Forest Service lands after such natural disasters. Representative Curtis echoed this sentiment, expressing his support for the bill's aim to bridge critical gaps and ensure swift and effective recovery efforts for national forests, safeguarding the water supply for downstream communities.

Representative Neguse emphasized the risks wildfires pose to watersheds and drinking water supplies in many communities across the West. He believes that the Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act will provide critical federal resources to help communities address these risks in the aftermath of catastrophic wildfires. Representative Caraveo, a co-leader of the bill, underscored the commitment to protecting watersheds as a means of safeguarding communities in Colorado. She highlighted the threats posed by wildfires, rainfall, and changing climate to the stability of water in the state.

The bill has garnered support from various stakeholders, including Redge Johnson, Executive Director of Utah's Public Lands Policy Coordinating Office. Johnson praised Senator Romney's proactive approach to wildfire recovery efforts on U.S. Forest Service land and highlighted the disastrous effects of delaying mitigation efforts after wildfires. He mentioned the devastating impact of ash-laden runoff from the 2018 Dollar Ridge Fire on the Strawberry River fishery and the cost incurred by the Central Utah Water Conservancy District to recover and upgrade its facilities.

The Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act aims to address bureaucratic obstacles that water providers face in protecting drinking water supplies for communities downstream from wildfires. Currently, existing programs like the Natural Resources Conservation Service's Emergency Watershed Program and the USFS Burned Area Emergency Response Program focus on non-federal lands and the protection of federal assets, respectively. This leaves the drinking water supplies for communities downstream of National Forests vulnerable after natural disasters.

The bill seeks to fill this gap by establishing the Emergency Forest Watershed Program, which will provide critical federal resources to assist in the restoration and protection of water resources in the aftermath of catastrophic wildfires. This program will streamline recovery efforts and ensure that communities have the necessary support to recover and safeguard their water supply.

The Watershed Protection and Forest Recovery Act is a significant step towards protecting communities' water resources after wildfires in national forests. It addresses the need for collaboration between local water managers and the U.S. Forest Service, streamlines the funding process for water resource restoration, and ensures that communities have the necessary resources to recover from natural disasters. This bipartisan legislation demonstrates a commitment to the health of our watersheds and the safety of communities across the nation.