WASHINGTON -Several Democrats on the Natural Resources Committee, citing recent assessments by the U.S. government of climate threats against America’s natural resources, today called on committee Republicans to immediately hold hearings on climate change and America’s natural heritage.
A ten year assessment released yesterday by the Forest Service on the conditions of America’s federal forests found that climate change will decrease the amount of drinking water available from our forests, and an increase in wildfire. And a recent report by the Department of Interior found that the Colorado River Basin would experience huge deficiencies in supply of water for farmers and families, in large part because of climate change.
Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), the Ranking Member of the committee, was joined in the letter by Reps. Raúl Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands, Grace Napolitano (D-Calif.), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee oN Water and Power, and Gregorio Sablan (D-MP), the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs.
“We believe that the Committee should hold a comprehensive series of oversight hearings to examine the impact of climate change and related extreme weather events on our water resources, our forests, our wildlife and our fisheries and oceans in the new Congress," write the Democrats., cites the “almost apocalyptic" weather that affected the United States this year as one reason for concern. The Democrats focus on several recent studies, however, that point to troubling issues for America’s natural resources, which are overseen by the committee.
The Forest Service report notes that while America’s National Forests are the single largest source of drinking water in the Nation, supplying water to over 66 million Americans, “The result of the combination of increasing water demand and declining water yields is an increase in vulnerability of the U.S. water supply to shortage, especially in the larger Southwest and Great Plains."
The Colorado River Basin study says that there will be a reduction of 9 percent in flow of the Colorado River over the next 50 years compared to the last 100 years, and that droughts will be more intense. The number of people who could be affected by shortages due to drought and demand could double to 76.5 million people by 2060, according to the report.
The Democrats also note the huge stresses put on American species as varied as salmon to spotted owls.
NatRes #Dems, Citing troubling assessments of America’s natural #resources, calls for #climate hearings in New Congress 1.usa.gov/URm2kd
- Nat Resources Dems (@NRDems) Dec. 19, 2012
