Washington, D.C. — U.S. Senators Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), and James Risch (R-Idaho) introduced the Headwaters Protection Act to invest in America’s forests and watersheds by expanding two key U.S. Forest Service (USFS) programs. The two programs together prevent water pollution at the source, improve the health of our watersheds, and ensure investments benefit downstream communities.
“In the West, the survival of our economy and our way of life depends on the stewardship of our forests and watersheds,” said Bennet. “We need to pass this legislation to protect critical water resources for downstream communities and make our forests more resilient to wildfire, drought, and a changing climate.”
“Natural resources and the environment are best protected through collaborative efforts at the local level,” said Crapo. “We must support watershed restoration projects that encourage collaboration in small, rural and disadvantaged communities and Tribes without exerting federal control over private lands.”
“Colorado’s forests and grasslands are key to healthy watersheds, with benefits that flow far downstream,” said Hickenlooper. “Our bill equips farmers, cities, and the Forest Service to help reduce water pollution at the source and deliver cleaner water for our communities.”
“Water is essential to the health and safety of our communities. Protecting and improving our watersheds is critical to ensuring reliable access to clean drinking water and making our forests more resilient against wildfires,” said Luján. “The Headwaters Protection Act will strengthen these efforts by investing in watershed management and pollution prevention. Importantly for New Mexico, it also expands the Water Source Protection Program to include acequias and land-grant mercedes as eligible water users, recognizing their vital role in our state’s water systems.”
“When managed properly, National Forests can provide the foundation for healthy watersheds, providing clean drinking water and irrigation,” said Risch. “The Headwaters Protection Act will allow community, industry, and federal partners to improve and protect critical forest water sources for decades to come.”
To ensure clean drinking water for communities, the USFS has two key authorities to manage our forests for watershed health: the Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) and the Watershed Condition Framework (WCF). The WSPP invests in projects that prevent water pollution at the source by encouraging farmers and ranchers, water utilities, Tribes, local governments, and the Forest Service to work in partnership to restore forest health and impaired watersheds. The WCF establishes a consistent process at the USFS to evaluate the health of our watersheds and ensure investments benefit downstream communities.
The Headwaters Protection Act improves the WSPP by increasing and expanding access to funding and directing the program to prioritize local, collaborative partnerships to protect forests and watersheds. It also creates dedicated funding for WCF and makes a technical change to the program to ensure management activities in our National Forests do not lead to the long-term degradation of our watersheds.
Specifically, the Headwaters Protection Act would:
- Reauthorize the WSPP and increase the authorization of appropriations for the program from $10 million per year to $30 million per year;
- Broaden the range of water users, including historically disadvantaged communities, who can participate in and benefit from the WSPP;
- Reduce financial barriers for water users to participate in the WSPP;
- Prioritize WSPP projects that benefit drinking water quality and improve resilience to wildfire and climate change;
- Make a technical change to the WCF to ensure healthy watersheds do not become degraded; and
- Authorize $30 million in new appropriations per year for the WCF.
“In Colorado we have a responsibility to be good stewards to the vast water resources that originate in the Colorado Rockies. Healthy watersheds are the foundation of our way of life in our state, protecting the livelihoods of tens of millions of Americans living downstream beyond our borders, and connecting us all. I applaud Sen. Bennet’s commitment to ensuring our Colorado communities have the resources they need to restore and improve watershed health in Colorado and across the country,” said Colorado Governor Jared Polis.
“As the originating source of water for eighteen other states and the Republic of Mexico, protecting Colorado forests and watersheds are critical for our economies, communities, environment and agriculture. We greatly appreciate the leadership of Senator Bennet and bipartisan support for the reintroduction of the Headwaters Protection Act. The Act provides critical funds and ongoing programmatic support in our partnership with federal agencies to protect our water supplies and reduce wildfire risk across watershed boundaries,” said Dan Gibbs, Executive Director, Colorado Department of Natural Resources.
“We know there is an unequivocal link between healthy forests and healthy watersheds and yet, in recent years Colorado’s forests have experienced intense drought, insect infestations and record-setting wildfires. Amidst a warming climate and growing populations the need for bold action to protect Colorado’s forests, and in doing so the clean and abundant water they make available, has never been greater,” said Matt McCombs, Colorado State Forester. “I want to thank Sen. Bennet for taking on this challenge through the Headwaters Protection Act ensuring science, collaboration and a sense of urgency guide our way as we face down these challenges together.”
“Watershed health is essential to preserving drinking water sources that many metropolitan communities depend on,” said Tom Dobbins, CEO, Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies. “The Headwaters Protection Act will make essential improvements to US Forest Service programs dedicated to protecting drinking water sources while prioritizing climate resilience and drinking water quality. AMWA applauds Senator Bennet’s leadership to ensure the quality of drinking water sources, and we look forward to advancing this important legislation.”
“Healthy source watersheds improve water reliability and quality, bolster resilience to drought and wildfire, and sustain the fish and wildlife habitat that hunters and anglers depend on,” said Alex Funk, Director of Water Resources, Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. “The Headwaters Protection Act will strengthen public-private partnerships to accelerate restoration and conservation of these landscapes, and we applaud Sen. Bennet and Sen. Crapo for their leadership in introducing this important bipartisan legislation aimed at keeping our forests and watersheds healthy.”
“The health of our forests and the security and cleanliness of our water supplies are closely linked. In recent years, we’ve seen the devastating impacts that wildfires ripping through beetle-weakened forests have had on our landscapes, rivers, and water infrastructure. American Rivers strongly supports this bill, which will help improve the ability of our National Forests to provide clean drinking water for our communities, protect wildlife habitat, and benefit agricultural water users,” said Matt Rice, Southwest Regional Director, American Rivers.
“Colorado Springs Utilities greatly appreciates and supports Senator Bennet’s efforts to preserve Water Source Protection Program (WSPP) funding and expand its reach to include additional entities. Expanding the program to encompass the watershed protection work we—and other water providers—undertake in collaboration with the U.S. Forest Service will strengthen our ability to ensure a safe and reliable water supply for Coloradans,” said Travas Deal, Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities.
“Protecting our watersheds is a critical first step in providing safe drinking water for millions of Americans,” said David LaFrance, CEO, American Water Works Association. “The American Water Works Association applauds Sen. Bennet and Sen. Crapo for their strong leadership in introducing the Headwaters Protection Act and their ongoing support for programs that keep our forests and watersheds healthy.”
“From the Rio Grande to the Columbia River, the watersheds within America’s National Forests are critical to our way of life, providing drinking water for most Coloradans and more than 60 million people across the country and key habitat for wildlife. Colorado’s rivers support a robust economy through our farms and ranches, and offer world-class recreation experiences for visitors. Both the Watershed Condition Framework and Water Source Protection Program were designed to help protect these important resources. The Headwaters Protection Act improves upon these important programs by preventing future degradation and allowing more communities in our state and beyond to have a voice,” said Jim Ramey, Colorado State Director, The Wilderness Society.
“The Nature Conservancy in Colorado strongly supports Senators Bennet, Crapo, Hickenlooper, Risch, and Lujan’s Headwaters Protection Act. Healthy forested watersheds provide the natural infrastructure that supplies clean water for people and communities, agriculture, hydropower, and fish and wildlife. Many of these forested watersheds are on both public and private lands, and many are in unhealthy condition, at risk of high-severity wildfire, and in need of ecologically based restoration. The Headwaters Protection Act reauthorizes and improves the Water Source Protection Program, a tool that can bring investments from non-federal partners to support forest health, restoration, and watershed protection projects. This bill is a smart investment in our future,” said Carlos Fernandez, Colorado State Director, The Nature Conservancy.
“The Headwaters Protection Act will not only help restore healthy rivers that provide cold, clean water for downstream communities, but will also make these vital coldwater ecosystems for trout and salmon better able to withstand the impacts of floods, fire, and drought. We thank Senator Bennet and Senator Crapo for their leadership and look forward to working with our partners to make this program a success on the ground,” said Chris Wood, president and CEO of Trout Unlimited.
The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.