Bipartisan Bill Introduced to Protect America's Forests and Watersheds

U.S. Senators Michael Bennet, Mike Crapo, John Hickenlooper, Ben Ray Lujan, and James Risch introduced the Headwaters Protection Act, a bipartisan bill that aims to invest in America's forests and watersheds by expanding two key U.S. Forest Service programs. The bill seeks to improve the health of our watersheds, prevent water pollution at the source, and ensure investments benefit downstream communities.

Key Takeaways:

• The Headwaters Protection Act would reauthorize the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) and increase the authorization of appropriations from $10 million per year to $30 million per year.
• The bill would broaden the range of water users, including historically disadvantaged communities, who can participate in and benefit from the WSPP.
• The WSPP would prioritize projects that benefit drinking water quality and improve resilience to wildfire and climate change.
• The bill would make a technical change to the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF) to ensure healthy watersheds do not become degraded.
• The WCF would receive dedicated funding of $30 million per year.

The bipartisan bill has garnered support from a wide range of organizations, including the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and American Rivers. These groups recognize the importance of healthy forests and watersheds in providing clean drinking water, improving water reliability and quality, and supporting fish and wildlife habitats.

Statistics:

• $10 million: Current annual authorization of appropriations for the WSPP
• $30 million: Proposed increased annual authorization of appropriations for the WSPP
• 18: States that rely on Colorado's forests and watersheds for water supplies
• 60 million: People across the country who rely on America's National Forests for drinking water

Sources:

• U.S. Senator Michael Bennet
• U.S. Senator Mike Crapo
• U.S. Senator John Hickenlooper
• U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján
• U.S. Senator James Risch
• The Wilderness Society
• The Nature Conservancy
• Trout Unlimited
• American Rivers
• Colorado Department of Natural Resources