General Manager Mueller’s written testimony highlighted the need for active forest management and wildfire mitigation to protect natural watersheds in our forests. Wildfires release ash and sediment into watersheds and create hydrophobic soil, exacerbating western drought. There are nearly 2.5 million acres of forest land in Colorado in urgent need of treatment to reduce wildfire risk and protect watersheds. Congresswoman Boebert has been a leader on active forest management, and in a legislative provision signed into law, she secured $50 million for the U.S. Forest Service to manage our forests and combat the bark beetle infestation increasing the risk of catastrophic wildfires. Last Congress, Congresswoman Boebert introduced the most comprehensive active forest management bill in decades, and she looks forward to passing active forest management legislation in the 118^th Congress.

Congresswoman Boebert is working on innovative solutions to western drought. In a legislative provision signed into law, Congresswoman Boebert secured direction from the Appropriations Committee for a U.S. Forest Service and Department of the Interior pilot program to combat salt cedar and Russian olive infestations in the West. These noxious weeds waste up to 200 gallons of water per day per plant. Congresswoman Boebert has worked extensively with Montezuma County on its innovative efforts to mitigate salt cedars, and she was an early supporter of its efforts that ultimately became the model for exploring the national pilot program.

General Manager Mueller also testified about the need for more rural water storage projects and streamlining the permitting process. Congresswoman Boebert is a strong advocate for rural water storage projects, and in the House FY 2023 appropriations package, she secured $229.26 million for water conservation and delivery projects and an additional $50 million for rural water projects that will help combat western drought. Congresswoman Boebert has recently worked to increase water storage by building the Bruce Canyon Reservoir. She is also a strong supporter of the Wolf Creek Reservoir project. Additionally, Congresswoman Boebert worked to support 566 water storage and delivery projects across Colorado’s Third District.

Congresswoman Boebert asked General Manager Mueller additional questions about combatting western drought after his initial testimony: