Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions-Tamarisk Control & Riparian Restoration Act

STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS

By Mr. CAMPBELL (for himself and Mr. ALLARD):

S. 1236. A bill to direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program to control or eradicate tamarisk in the western States, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.

[Page S7727]

Mr. CAMPBELL. Mr. President, I rise today to introduce the Tamarisk Control & Riparian Restoration Act.

Tamarisk is a noxious weed that is not native to the Americas, but has spread across 11 States, from California to Oklahoma, like a plague. Many westerners consider Tamarisk, also known as Salt Cedar, to be one of the West's most significant natural resources problems for a variety of reasons.

Tamarisk's major threat is that it uses a significant amount of water, far more water than many realize. Yet, folks out West know all too well that we have been and are still experiencing one of the worst droughts in the West's recorded history. People who have been farming and ranching for generations have been forced to sell their homesteads and give up the life they love because there just hasn't been enough water for crops or to maintain livestock. I've personally felt the effects of the drought as my wife and I have had to sell our little cow/calf operation.

I mentioned earlier that Tamarisk uses significant amounts of water, but I want to speak a little bit now about just how much water it uses. Studies have found that Tamarisk uses from 2 to 4½ million acre feet of water each year, water we frankly cannot afford to lose.

To put that in perspective, several other States and the Republic of Mexico are delivered 10 million acre feet from all of Colorado's rivers and streams, including the mighty Colorado River. California is allotted 4½ million acre feet of Colorado water per year. That means that Tamarisk, a noxious, nonnative weed, uses the same amount of water flowing from Colorado to California. We must address the preventable loss of this most valuable resource before it's too late.

My bill seeks to begin get the Tamarisk problem under control in a few innovative ways. First, my bill requires the Secretary of the Interior to assess the extent of Tamarisk invasion, identifying where it is in each affected State, and estimate the costs to restore the land.

Second, my bill establishes a State Tamarisk Assistance Program to provide States the needed funds to control or eradicate Tamarisk. Grant funds will be distributed to states in accordance with the severity of the Tamarisk problem they have.

The Governor of each State will appoint a state lead agency to administer the program in the State, working with Indian Tribes, colleges and universities, nonprofit organizations, soil and water conservancy districts, and Federal partners. This coordinate approach provides sufficient flexibility to deal with Tamarisk's spread and to reduce duplicative efforts.

A watershed or basin can stretch across all kinds of land, including Federal, State, or tribal lands. Noxious weeds don't recognize those ownership boundaries and neither can we.

Since my bill's focus is on getting rid of this water-sucking weed, it requires that 90 percent of the Federal funds must be used for eradiction or rehabilitation.

This legislation authorizes $20 million for 2004 and such sums as necessary thereafter. States must share the burden by ponying up 25 percent of the costs. The Tamarisk problem hurts everyone and the non-Federal share can come from counties, municipalities, special districts, nongovernmental entities, or the States themselves.

Our Nation is in a deficit, and every state is experiencing money shortages. Americans demand to know that their hard earned money is being spent wisely and in the most effient way possible. That is why my bill requires that each participating State must submit a report of the Secretary describing the purpose and results of the project in order to receive funding. In the West, water is more precious and scarce than elsewhere in our great nation. To do nothing about the preventable loss of precious water by the spread of this noxious plant and the loss of native habitat will cost us untold millions more in the future.

Back in my State of Colorado, constituents tell me how the drought has affected them, even devastated their livelihoods. No one can control the weather and bring rain. However, getting a handle on the water-sucking Tamarisk plaguing the West is possible—if we act now.

My bill provides the necessary tools to deal with this problem so that ther will be enough water for all of us, and habitat suitable for native species of plants and animals.

I ask unanimous consent that the next of the bill be printed in the RECORD.