Lujan Welcomes $400 Million for Western States Impacted by Long-Term Drought

Lawmakers sent letter to the Biden administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Biden administration approved $400 million for Western states after U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), member of the Agriculture Committee, alongside New Mexico delegation members and Western state lawmakers, called on the administration to make further investments to address long-term drought caused by climate change and strengthen protections for Tribal and acequia communities.

Heeding Senator Luján’s call, USDA is providing targeted assistance to support water-saving commodity production for acequias, recognizing that many irrigators in the Southwest are formed under the community-based acequia model instead of the irrigation district model. This historic inclusion will support acequia communities, including a grant for Elephant Butte Irrigation District in New Mexico.

Historically, acequia communities in the West have faced multiple barriers and hurdles when it comes to receiving assistance from United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs. Acequias create a land-based culture that has sustained communities throughout the arid west for generations, yet, like other agricultural practices, increasing aridification is creating significant challenges for acequias. Drought conditions in the West are affecting growing seasons and crop yields, and Parciantes [individual irrigators who own water rights] face barriers. Senator Luján has been a champion for acequia communities in the House of Representatives and the United States Senate as one of two members from Western states on the Agricultural Committee. Through his Committee work in Washington and back home in New Mexico, awareness for acequia communities has grown significantly, and the inclusion of federal language related to acequias at the federal level is at an all-time high, including in the upcoming 2024 Farm Bill framework.

In addition to the preliminarily selected districts announced today, USDA is also announcing a Tribal set-aside within the program, targeting up to $40 million in funding for additional awards within Indigenous communities. USDA will work with the Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Tribes, and Tribal producers to reduce water consumption and maintain land in agricultural production – supporting the production of water-saving commodities. USDA is partnering with BIA to use available data and ensure meaningful engagement with Tribes to establish selection criteria that reflect the specific needs and water management systems within Indigenous Communities. Additional information for further engagement and selections will be provided in the weeks ahead.

“I am proud to announce a $400 million investment in drought relief for Western states. I am grateful to the Biden Administration and to Secretary Vilsack for approving this funding, which represents a significant step forward in supporting our communities who face long-term drought impact and our Tribal and acequia communities,” said Luján. “This investment will strengthen our long-term resilience against future droughts and highlights our unwavering commitment to tackling this critical water issue. By ensuring that every individual and community has the resources they need to thrive, we are taking decisive action to mitigate the severe risks that drought poses to American farmers, ranchers, and the local economies reliant on our precious water resources.”

The text of the letter is available HERE.