Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership Applauds Senate Committee Passage of Water Resources Development Act of 2026

LAKE TAHOE, Calif./Nev. - The Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership today commended the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works for advancing S.4949, the Water Resources Development Act of 2026 (WRDA 2026), and thanked Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) and his professional staff for their work to secure a provision expanding eligibility for water agencies at high risk from wildfire to access the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF).

The provision makes eligible for DWSRF financing projects that both improve drinking water service and provide wildfire suppression benefits, a critical tool for water agencies in fire-prone areas, including those across the Lake Tahoe Basin, that are working to upgrade infrastructure so it can deliver the water pressure and flow firefighters need to protect homes and communities.

"The Partnership appreciates the bi-partisan Committee support for inclusion of this provision to modernize the DWSRF to support water providers, fire agencies, and locally elected leaders better protect communities in the wildland-urban interface to upgrade water infrastructure, alongside forest fuels reduction and home hardening, to create safer neighborhoods and strengthen wildfire resilience," said Sean Barclay, General Manager of Tahoe City Public Utility District.

The Partnership praises Senator Padilla for championing this provision through committee and his continued leadership on wildfire resilience and water infrastructure issues affecting California communities. California Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are also leading a bi-partisan effort to strengthening rural water infrastructure and community wildfire readiness through the introduction of S. 4812, the FIRE SMART Act.

WRDA 2026, which reauthorizes the DWSRF and Clean Water State Revolving Fund programs along with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects and programs, now moves toward further Senate consideration. The Partnership urges swift passage by the full Senate and encourages the House of Representatives to support this critical wildfire-resilience provision as the two chambers work toward a final bill.

About the Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership

The Tahoe Water for Fire Suppression Partnership is a bi-state collaboration of Lake Tahoe Basin water agencies formed in response to the devastating structure losses during the 2007 Angora Fire. The Partnership works to strengthen water infrastructure throughout the Basin to improve fire suppression capacity, protect communities in the wildland-urban interface, and is a national leader supporting coordinated wildfire resilience efforts.