Friday June 30, 2023
The Center Square —
U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, introduced a bill that he hopes will bolster water supply.
Padilla introduced the Voluntary Agricultural Land Repurposing Act. It would provide funding to states that voluntarily repurpose certain agricultural lands.
Padilla filed the bill in response to the Colorado River Basin’s water shortage, the Great Salt Lake’s declining water supply, and groundwater overdraft in California’s Central Valley, among other issues.
Padilla worries that if water shortages are not addressed, it will increase dust, pests, and weeds, negatively impacting the economy.
He thinks repurposing some agricultural lands can help mitigate the economic impact of drought while keeping the industry productive.