Hickenlooper, Curtis Celebrate Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Improve Snowpack Monitoring, Manage Drought

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and John Curtis celebrated the Senate passage of their bipartisan bill, the Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act, to help better predict and measure water supply to manage drought in the West. Passage comes as Colorado, Utah, and the entire West are experiencing a historic 1,200-year climate-driven drought, causing Colorado's snowpack to reach record lows this past year.

"We can't make informed decisions about our water supply without the right measurement and monitoring tools," said Hickenlooper. "We're in dire straits with this drought in the West, but this bill will help us better manage our precious water resources and give us more accurate water predictions."

"Water is one of the defining challenges facing Utah and the West, and we need good information to make good decisions," said Senator Curtis. "In a state where so much of our water supply depends on mountain snowpack, better forecasting helps farmers, communities, and water managers plan ahead and make the most of every drop. I'm pleased the Senate passed our bipartisan bill to strengthen these tools and give Western states better information to manage their water resources."

Companion legislation introduced by Colorado Representatives Joe Neguse and Jeff Hurd passed the House.

As much as 80% of Colorado's annual surface water supply comes from snowmelt runoff. Accurate measurements of snowpack are necessary to have a clear picture of the snowmelt that feeds rivers and streams across the West.

The bipartisan legislation would reauthorize the Bureau of Reclamation's (BOR) Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program which provides grants to advance emerging snow monitoring technology that improve water supply predictions.

Specifically, the bill would:

• Reauthorize BOR's Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program through 2031:

• Continue authorized funding of $15 million over five years; and

• Update language in existing authorization to emphasize water supply forecasting activities that inform interstate water management decisions.

As governor, Hickenlooper helped negotiate the 2019 Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Plan, which helped protect critical levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead and ensured continued compliance with the 1922 Colorado River Compact.

In the Senate, Hickenlooper convened the bipartisan Colorado River Caucus to help address the Colorado River crisis and accompanying drought. Hickenlooper also helped secure millions in funding for water conservation projects in the West from both the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

The bipartisan Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program Reauthorization Act is supported by American Rivers, the Southwestern Water Conservation District, Colorado River District, Upper Colorado River Commission, Denver Water, Colorado Department of Natural Resources, Colorado Water Congress, Colorado Municipal League, Associated Governments of Northwest Colorado, the Environmental Defense Fund, The Nature Conservancy, the National Ski Areas Association, the Family Farm Alliance, the National Audubon Society, and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership.

Full text of the bill can be found HERE.

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