Rep. Andy Biggs introduces bill to keep Colorado River Basin from shrinking

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA) - Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) introduced a bill to help keep the Colorado River Basin from shrinking.

This would authorize $19 billion to increase the water supply available to the Basin.

The "Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act" would shift the focus on developing additional water.

"Congressman Biggs has put forward a serious proposal that addresses the problem Arizona should have started preparing for years ago: we need more water," House Speaker Steve Montenegro said. "For too long, the discussion has centered on how to divide a declining supply. This legislation takes a better approach by removing unnecessary federal delays and putting real resources behind projects that can increase supply. Long-term water augmentation is the path forward."

Rep. Biggs said the legislation says would do many things, including cut federal permitting delays, restore the Yuma Desalting Plant, and support major new water infrastructure across all seven basin states.

To learn more about this, read the press release below.