Congresswoman Lee Hosts 2nd Annual Water Summit, Announces $141 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Nevada Water Projects
Joined by Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner and Regional Water Leaders
Watch video from the summit here
LAS VEGAS – Today, Congresswoman Lee (NV-03) hosted her second annual water summit at the Springs Preserve with national and regional water leaders to discuss water related ideas, solutions, and research. Lee also announced that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that she helped negotiate and pass has allocated $141 million to 20 water projects across Nevada since being signed into law.
Congresswoman Lee held her first-ever Water Summit last year to bring an all-hands-on-deck effort to meet this climate and drought crisis with the urgency it demands. This year, local, state, and federal partners joined in discussing federal investments in Nevada and the Colorado River Basin, efforts to protect water resources and support water recreation, and funding for the U.S. Drought Monitor.
Congresswoman Lee was joined by Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton, Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger, Lake Mead National Recreation Area Superintendent Mike Gauthier, National Drought Mitigation Center Director Dr. Mark Svoboda, Shana Tighi with the Bureau of Reclamation’s water operations staff, and representatives from the Desert Research Institute.
“No one knows better than a Nevadan just how precious our water resources are. I brought today’s coalition together because our water conservation is an all-hands-on-deck effort that demands cooperation from our local advocates all the way to our leaders in Washington,” said Colorado River Caucus Vice-Chair Congresswoman Susie Lee. "Today's water summit was all about ideas, solutions, and research that can help Nevada as we face the effects of the worst drought in twelve centuries. I will continue working in Congress to ensure that our partners have the resources needed to carry on their good work here in Nevada and across the Colorado River Basin."
“I want to thank Congresswoman Lee for bringing together local, state, and federal partners to address the water management challenges the Colorado River Basin faces due to drought and climate change,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “Addressing the drought crisis requires an all-hands-on-deck approach and that’s exactly what we saw at today’s summit. Together, we can find solutions to meet the challenges of these unprecedented drought conditions.”
“Congresswoman Lee continues to champion solutions to protect the Colorado River,” said Southern Nevada Water Authority General Manager John Entsminger. “Working collaboratively with Nevada’s congressional delegation, Congresswoman Lee has helped secure federal funding for critical water projects that enhance Nevada’s long-term sustainability and support Nevada’s leadership on water resource issues.”
Lee’s work to protect southern Nevada’s water:
- In 2023, Lee delivered more than $122 million for local water projects, including $20 million for the Las Vegas Wash and Lake Mead.
- This year, Lee secured another $4 million for the Lake Mead/Las Vegas Wash Program.
- Last Congress, Lee helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act — the most significant action on the climate crisis in our history, and priority is being given to drought mitigation projects. It includes $4 billion in investments specifically for water conservation along the Colorado River Basin.
- Lee’s Large-Scale Water Recycling Project Investment Act was signed into law as part of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
- This Congress, Lee is leading reauthorization to extend a water recycling grant program for large-scale projects in southern Nevada and sixteen other Western states.
- This year’s bipartisan Water Resources Development Act included all three of Lee’s requests to protect southern Nevada’s water supply, including support for Laughlin’s water system and the Las Vegas Wash program.
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