good morning everybody. i m pleased to call this senate agriculture subcommittee on conservation, climate, forestry and natural resources to order. i m also grateful to ranking member martial honest partnership on organizing this hearing on water resilience. i know he shares my concern about the drought the west faces, especially relating to the declining water levels in the hour purpose this morning simple, to sound the alarm about the water crisis in the american west. the west has not been this dry in 1200 years, 1200 years. if we don t get our act together here it will not only put our western agriculture at risk but the american west as we know it. my state sits at the headwaters of the colorado river which starts as snow in the rockies before cutting across 1400 miles to the sea of cortez. the colorado river basin is the lifeblood of the american southwest, it provides the drinking water for 40 million people. that s across seven states and 30 current. it arrogates
in 1200 years, 1200 years. if we don t get our act together here it will not only put our western agriculture at risk but the american west as we know it. my state sits at the headwaters of the colorado river which starts as snow in the rockies before cutting across 1400 miles to the sea of cortez. the colorado river basin is the lifeblood of the american southwest, it provides the drinking water for 40 million people. that s across seven states and 30 current. it arrogates 5 million acres of agricultural land. it undermines the west 26 billion dollar outdoor recreation and tourism economy, and it runs out of our. the two largest reservoir in the basement, lake powell and lake mead are the lowest levels they ve been since they were filled over 50 years ago. lake powell has dropped more than three feet just in the last few years. the water crisis has not been limited to the colorado river basin. the most recent data from the u.s. drought monitor found more than 50% of the enti
[inaudible conversations] good morning everybody. i m pleased to call the subcommittee meeting on conservation climate, forestry and natural resourcesli to order and i m also grateful to ranking member marshall for his partnership in organizing today s hearing on western water resilience. i know he shares my concerns about the unprecedented drought the west faces especially as it relates to the declining water levels in the ogle la la aquifer. our purpose this morning is simple, to sound the alarm about the water crisis in the americn west. the west has not been i this dry in 1200 years. 1200 years. and if we don t get our act together here it s going to not only put our western agriculture risk but the american west as we know it. my i states it is that the headwaters the colorado river which starts in the rockies before cuttingst across 1400 mis to the sea of cortez. the colorado river basin is the lifeblood of the american southwester and provides the drinking water for