SB 104-23: Southwestern Water Conservation Act (Passed)

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

AN ACT
To promote conservation and renewal efforts for southwestern water access


Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia asssembled

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Southwestern Water Conservation Act.

1. Definitions

1. "Southwestern states" shall, for purposes of this legislation, include the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah.

Section 2. Recognizing a Right to Conserved Water

The right of water owners to retain a legal right to control conserved water and to protect it from forfeiture shall be recognized by the Republic of Atlasia, and endorses Regional and State efforts to act accordingly.

Section 3. Split Season Leasing

$400,000,000 shall be appropriated to the Southerwestern states for the purpose of split season leasing.

Section 4. Research Appropriations

$175,000,000 shall be appropriated for research in conservation of water in southwestern States, including $75,000,000 specifically for research in conserving the Great Salt Lake.

Section 5. Agricultural Water Conservation

$100,000,000 shall be appropriated to the Southwestern states for reimbursement costs in incentivizing agricultural water conservation.

Section 6. Appropriation for the Development of Desalination Plants in California

$700,000,000 shall be appropriated to the State of California for the development of new desalination plants.

Sponsor: Scott

The gentleman from Wyoming is recognized.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

As we know, the Southwest is in a very precarious situation with regard to the water supply, especially as we see population booms in many of these states. I will briefly explain each section and elaborate on what is needed; unfortunately, the carrot-and-stick approach might be needed for some of these.

Recognizing a Right to Conserved Water - This is one of the Great Salt Lake Advisory Council's policy recommendations. This section would actually apply to all states by legally protecting water owners who conserve their water.

Split Season Leasing - Split season instream leasing allows water right holders to use the water during part of the season, and then lease the water right instream during the other part of the season. Appropriating funding state engineers' staff will be key to implementing efficient water banking.

Research Appropriations - Self-explanatory. Conserving the Colorado River is essential to promoting sustainability in the southwest (more on that later) and saving the Great Salt Lake.

Agricultural Water Conservation - This gives the states more flexibility over incentivizing water conservation in the agriculture industry. There is a good argument for making this universal, but that would require additional funding. This can all be negotiated.

Development of Desalination Plants - These plants are very expensive, but further development of desalination plants by the California coast will make California less dependent on the Colorado River, thereby freeing these resources for other southwestern states.

I realize that this is a lot of money to primarily benefit one region, but this is a region that is becoming more essential for sustaining as people continue to migrate there. We need to anticipate that a lot of this will be climate migration from the coasts. Ideally, I would have also wanted to invest in a pipeline connecting the Colorado River to the Pacific, but I do not know if this is realistic or feasible. It would also be very expensive. Conservation where conservation is needed most is the goal of this bill, but I am not opposed to expanding this to the Pacific Northwest or other states. That will, of course, require more funding.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I wholeheartedly support this.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

On a related note, I am curious if parts of Texas have similar water shortages. I would assume that the Rio Grande covers El Paso and South Texas, and Houston has the Gulf (and as a city actually has flood problems), but perhaps wxtransit would know more about the central or western regions.

[wxtransit]

On a related note, I am curious if parts of Texas have similar water shortages. I would assume that the Rio Grande covers El Paso and South Texas, and Houston has the Gulf (and as a city actually has flood problems), but perhaps wxtransit would know more about the central or western regions.

Texas is indeed prone to water shortages, particularly those regions that are dependent on lake water supply (such as North Texas) that can be adversely affected by drought. As for Central Texas, the Hill Country (plus Austin and San Antonio) are mostly served by the Edwards Aquifer, though of course there are conservation angles with preserving the aquifer as well.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

On a related note, I am curious if parts of Texas have similar water shortages. I would assume that the Rio Grande covers El Paso and South Texas, and Houston has the Gulf (and as a city actually has flood problems), but perhaps wxtransit would know more about the central or western regions.

Texas is indeed prone to water shortages, particularly those regions that are dependent on lake water supply (such as North Texas) that can be adversely affected by drought. As for Central Texas, the Hill Country (plus Austin and San Antonio) are mostly served by the Edwards Aquifer, though of course there are conservation angles with preserving the aquifer as well.

How about Lake Texoma? Red River? Wichita River? Is this water not drinkable and should we invest in better purifiers?

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Regardless of how the water problems in Texas can be resolved, I am including it in this legislation. All appropriations are modestly raised to account for Texas.

AN ACT
To promote conservation and renewal efforts for southwestern water access


Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia asssembled

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Southwestern Water Conservation Act.

1. Definitions

1. "Southwestern states" shall, for purposes of this legislation, include the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.

Section 2. Recognizing a Right to Conserved Water

The right of water owners to retain a legal right to control conserved water and to protect it from forfeiture shall be recognized by the Republic of Atlasia, and endorses Regional and State efforts to act accordingly.

Section 3. Split Season Leasing

$400,0500,000 shall be appropriated to the Southerwestern states for the purpose of split season leasing.

Section 4. Research Appropriations

$175,0500,000 shall be appropriated for research in conservation of water in southwestern States, including $75,000,000 specifically for research in conserving the Great Salt Lake.

Section 5. Agricultural Water Conservation

$100,0500,000 shall be appropriated to the Southwestern states for reimbursement costs in incentivizing agricultural water conservation.

Section 6. Appropriation for the Development of Desalination Plants in California

$700,000,000 shall be appropriated to the State of California for the development of new desalination plants.

Senators have 24 hours to object.

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I am finding it difficult these days not to be judgmental on an underlying problem or set of problems that led to these modern crises to begin with and while at the risk of deviating slightly from the given topic and appearing a bit too biased for my original home region, a good part of this is the consequence of over development of the sunbelt beyond that which the regions resources can sustain, actively contributing to the very environmental concerns that are indeed making the manifested problems (water shortages in this case) more acute and representing a drain financially to mitigate the damage as a result.

Of course I wouldn't be caught dead telling people in Phoenix to move back to Iowa or Ohio, since that isn't exactly a viable option economically at this point either. I will support the underlying bill thus as it is a more realistic option, at least in the short term and addresses the problem as it is.

[Joseph Cao]

Yep, I think this is straightforward enough in addressing the various problems we have. I've been curious about managing water usage rights but your explanation for Section 3 makes the arrangement fairly clear.

[SevenEleven]

This is a well thought bill that I will gladly support. Thank you Scott.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Hearing no objection, the amendment is adopted.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

AN ACT
To promote conservation and renewal efforts for southwestern water access


Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia asssembled

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Southwestern Water Conservation Act.

1. Definitions

1. "Southwestern states" shall, for purposes of this legislation, include the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.

Section 2. Recognizing a Right to Conserved Water

The right of water owners to retain a legal right to control conserved water and to protect it from forfeiture shall be recognized by the Republic of Atlasia, and endorses Regional and State efforts to act accordingly.

Section 3. Split Season Leasing

$400,500,000 shall be appropriated to the Southerwestern states for the purpose of split season leasing.

Section 4. Research Appropriations

$175,500,000 shall be appropriated for research in conservation of water in Southwestern states, including $75,000,000 specifically for research in conserving the Great Salt Lake.

Section 5. Agricultural Water Conservation

$100,500,000 shall be appropriated to the Southwestern states for reimbursement costs in incentivizing agricultural water conservation.

Section 6. Appropriation for the Development of Desalination Plants in California

$700,000,000 shall be appropriated to the State of California for the development of new desalination plants.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

There's been no debate for a week. I'm opening a final vote in 24 hours barring objections.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Hearing no objection, a final vote is now open. Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

AN ACT
To promote conservation and renewal efforts for southwestern water access


Be it enacted by the Senate of the Republic of Atlasia asssembled

Section 1. Title

This legislation may be cited as the Southwestern Water Conservation Act.

1. Definitions

1. "Southwestern states" shall, for purposes of this legislation, include the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.

Section 2. Recognizing a Right to Conserved Water

The right of water owners to retain a legal right to control conserved water and to protect it from forfeiture shall be recognized by the Republic of Atlasia, and endorses Regional and State efforts to act accordingly.

Section 3. Split Season Leasing

$400,500,000 shall be appropriated to the Southerwestern states for the purpose of split season leasing.

Section 4. Research Appropriations

$175,500,000 shall be appropriated for research in conservation of water in Southwestern states, including $75,000,000 specifically for research in conserving the Great Salt Lake.

Section 5. Agricultural Water Conservation

$100,500,000 shall be appropriated to the Southwestern states for reimbursement costs in incentivizing agricultural water conservation.

Section 6. Appropriation for the Development of Desalination Plants in California

$700,000,000 shall be appropriated to the State of California for the development of new desalination plants.

[Dr. MB]

Aye

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Aye

[AGA]

Aye

[Spark]

Aye

[KoopaDaQuick 🇵🇸]

aye

[Left Wing]

Aye

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Aye

[Kuumo]

Aye

[Southern Senator North Carolina Yankee]

Aye

[wxtransit]

Aye.

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

This bill has enough votes to pass. Senators have 24 hours to change their vote.