Drought, water insecurity seen as a personal matter

As California and the entire Colorado River basin enter another record year of drought, we barely seem to be staying ahead of the game.  Despite our best efforts, demand for water in the river basin exceeds supply, with the gap increasing in each subsequent year of drought.

With over 40 million people depending on Colorado River water, the importance of the river cannot be overstated. For Latinos in the basin, in particular, diminishing water supplies are both an economic and very personal matter.

"The Colorado River is an integral part of our heritage and way of life, and by taking action now we can make strides in ensuring that future generation can continue to benefit from this tremendous resource,” Maite Arce, president and CEO of the Hispanic Access Foundation, said recently. Indeed, protecting the Colorado River is not just smart water management for our communities; it honors a rich heritage.

Cooperative effort: Officials work to stave off Colorado River "crash"

The 24-Month Study Report released in August by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation gives a clear and austere warning about the condition of the River. A water shortage in Lake Mead, which triggers mandatory cuts to water usage in Arizona and Nevada, was narrowly averted for 2017. Without additional action, a shortage declaration could be likely in 2018 and beyond.

Clearly, current conditions require we do more – or risk harsh consequences that no one wants.

Fortunately, President Obama has taken a strong lead to ramp up the nation’s drought resilience capabilities. In March, the President issued a Memorandum directing federal agencies to collaborate and maximize drought-related activities in key watersheds. Nuestro Rio and other organizations celebrated this important step toward coordination of key water conservation programs across the Colorado River basin.

In addition, the Obama administration and the state of California signed an important new agreement in August toward addressing the air pollution challenges emerging from the diminishing Salton Sea – an increasing public health and environmental crisis. Many Southern California residents who live and work near the Salton Sea are Latino, and the health risk from Salton Sea dust is concerning.

And there is still more to do. The Bureau of Reclamation has proposed expanded opportunities for WaterSMART grants, the competitive grant program offering incentives for communities in California and across the West to improve water conservation and efficiency, thus ensuring more win-win projects that benefit both our agricultural communities and our environment.

Historically, the WaterSMART program has had enough funding to support only about 20 percent of grant applicants, leaving millions of dollars’ worth of high-quality water conservation projects unfunded each year. Congress needs to increase funding for this effective matching grant program. Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation needs to take steps to award grants to projects with benefits for fish and wildlife habitat or that keep water in our rivers. That way, we can encourage projects that protect our rivers and recreation and help to meet irrigation and municipal needs.

Protecting our water resources during severe drought is arguably our most compelling and urgent issue. We at Nuestro Rio applaud the strong commitment of the Obama Administration to collaborate with California and other states to combat drought in the West and conserve our Colorado River – a vital source of life for Latino families and communities. We call on our new president, Donald Trump, to continue with these life-preserving commitments.

Cristian Markovich, a member of the Cudahy City Council, is a member of the Nuestro Rio Regional Water Caucus, which represents Latinos living in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada devoted to the protection and sustainability of the Colorado River.