The Biden Administration is investing $105 million in water conservation and efficiency projects meant to shore up drought resilience, including more than $5.5 million for projects in Larimer, Montezuma, Montrose and Otero counties.
Zachary Hoylman, assistant state climatologist, said protecting water resources now and in the future will be critical for the nation's farmers and ranchers.
"Conservation is a really important piece of building resiliency," Hoylman explained. "Especially in an era of increasing variability in the climate system and longer term changes to the climate system."
The projects will optimize water deliveries to agricultural users, mitigate the risks of ditch failures by installing pipes, and install smart water meters. Shovel-ready projects in 11 states including Colorado are projected to save more than 111,000 acre-feet of water annually. One acre-foot is equal to more than 325,000 gallons of water, enough to cover a football field with one foot of water.
Hoylman pointed out there are many benefits to improving water transport efficiencies but it is also important to consider broader impacts. If you transport water by pipe instead of by ditch, it may be more efficient but it could also be taking water away from wetlands and waterfowl habitat.
"We can't only think about the human, socio-economic system," Hoylman argued. "There is really important feedback between the way that we divert water and the implications for ecology and ecosystems as a whole."
The investment taps funding allocated in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in 2021. The Bureau of Reclamation is investing a total of $8.3 billion over five years for water infrastructure projects, including rural water, water storage, conservation and conveyance, nature-based solutions, dam safety, water purification and reuse, and desalination.
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The Mississippi River tops a new list of America's most endangered rivers, in part because federal officials propose shifting flood disaster costs to states.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency's acting chief advocates moving recovery responsibilities to state governments.
Eileen Shader, senior director of flood plain restoration for the advocacy group American Rivers, which issued the report, warned it could destabilize flood protections for communities along the Mississippi.
"The Trump administration has called for FEMA to be dramatically changed, if not eliminated," Shader pointed out. "We thought it was really important to highlight the importance of FEMA and the federal role in managing disasters like flooding to our local communities."
The 2025 Most Endangered Rivers report noted it is the Mississippi's 13th appearance on the list, citing the river's history of "catastrophic floods," which have shaped national disaster policies.
FEMA has historically followed what can be described as a "locally executed, state-managed, federally supported" disaster model. Shader argued the partnership is critical for multistate crises.
"Especially we see really catastrophic events, we see national disasters declared, which opens up a lot of federal funding which can then flow to states and local communities to help them to recover and to become more resilient in the future," Shader emphasized. "It's a shared responsibility."
About 20 million people depend on the Mississippi River for drinking water, agriculture and wildlife habitat, which advocates say are all at risk if FEMA reduces flood response support this summer.
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Memorial Day weekend is the start of recreational boating season in Minnesota. State officials are encouraged by recent trends in keeping people safe on the lakes, and they hope pending permit requirements spur more awareness.
If you plan to take your watercraft out this weekend, the Department of Natural Resources reminds you to have enough life jackets on board and make sure everyone is wearing them. Be mindful of the wakes your boat creates, so paddlers and swimmers aren't overtaken by them.
Lisa Dugan, the DNR's recreation safety outreach coordinator, said boating-related fatalities have been historically low the past two seasons.
"Hopefully," she said, "it's a sign that just the safety behavior on boats is becoming more common."
Dugan said now is also a good time to get ready for a new state law that begins July 1. It'll require both adults and youths who operate motorboats to have a valid watercraft operator's permit. There are some exemptions, but in addition to a fee, the law includes a boater safety course and exam. More details are on the DNR's website.
A lot of sunshine is forecast for Minnesota this weekend, but Dugan warned that because the state is coming off a cool and rainy period, lake temperatures haven't caught up yet.
"Making safety part of your planning before you go out, and dressing in layers," she said. "Dress for the water temperature, not the air temperature, with the cold water."
While coasting along a lake or river, Dugan also warned boaters to look out for debris left by recent rainstorms. She noted water levels could be a little higher, leading to faster currents. Not only does that make it harder to steer the watercraft in certain situations, but it's also harder to see any hazards below the surface.
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Environmental advocates have warned President Donald Trump's proposed budget could cripple restoration of the Chesapeake Bay.
Federal agencies have long partnered with six watershed states to protect its waterways.
Harry Campbell, science policy and advocacy director for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said the cuts would severely affect Pennsylvania and beyond. He added the Environmental Protection Agency, which oversees the Chesapeake Bay Program, faces a 54.5% budget reduction, from $9.1 billion to $4.2 billion.
"This would eliminate critical state grants and other support mechanisms that Pennsylvania relies upon in working with farmers, upgrading wastewater treatment plants and improving fisheries that are so critical to the healthy condition of our urban streams but also to our economic vitality," Campbell outlined.
Campbell noted the EPA supports states in improving water quality by funding projects and offering low-interest loans for upgrading drinking water and wastewater systems. The agency also offers scientific guidance, helps develop monitoring and reporting systems and, in some cases, aids in enforcing pollution-reduction measures.
Campbell pointed out numerous other federal agencies are facing major funding cuts. For Pennsylvania, he contended, the most significant is the U.S. Geological Survey, set to lose $564 million in funding, which could halt research on the effects of climate change and eliminate or curtail essential water quality monitoring.
"This is the type of research that is looking at what is happening on the ground in our local communities, on our farms, in our streams," Campbell emphasized. "And trying to ascertain ways that we can utilize science and information to make informed decisions about the future of those communities."
Campbell noted the U.S. Department of Agriculture and local conservation programs provide crucial support to farmers by helping them design and implement conservation practices. The efforts improve water quality, soil health and herd health while reducing flooding and farm input costs. Proposed budget cuts could threaten the programs and the environmental and agricultural benefits they deliver across the region.
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