White House, Congress Tackle
Forest Health Challenges

National Forest lands are overwhelmingly the largest, single source of water in the United States and, in most regions of the West, contribute nearly all the water that supplies farms and cities. Across the U.S., 44 million homes are at risk of wildfires in the wildland-urban interface.

One month after deadly fires devastated large swaths of Southern California, President Trump issued an executive order that emphasizes forest management and wildfire risk reduction, while a Senate legislative hearing in March considered a House-passed bill that is intended to “fix our forests”.

The bipartisan bill, introduced by Rep. Bruce Westerman (R-AR) and Rep. Scott Peters (D-CALIFORNIA), who are pictured above (photo courtesy of Rep. Peters’ office), seeks to streamline environmental reviews and limit legal challenges to wildfire prevention projects.

“Our bill will help us protect where nature meets homes, pre-position firetrucks and other resources in high-risk areas, and build homes more resistant to fire,” said Rep. Peters. “I implore my colleagues in the Senate to quickly take up this bill.”

CLICK HERE to download the PDF Version of the April 2025 edition of the “Monthly Briefing”, where you can read more about this, and these other important issues to Western water users, from a perspective that you won’t find anywhere else:

• Congress-Passed CR to Extend Funding Through September 30
• EPA Announces New Guidance on WOTUS
• Wet Winter Helps Boost Oregon and California Water Supplies––Other Regions Face Continued Drought
• Alliance Leaders Across the West Recognized for Leadership                         
• Alliance Joins California Water Agencies on Smelt Critical Habitat Letter––Plus, Recent Monarch Butterfly Listing News
• Rep. Calvert Reintroduces FISH Act
• House WWF Subcommittee Holds Legislative Hearing on ESA Bill                  
• Trump Administration Makes Recent Appointments Important to the West    
• Columbia River Treaty Negotiations with Canada Paused                                 
• AZ Delegation Reintroduces $5B Colorado River Tribal Water Settlement Bill
• Klamath Water Users Announce New Staff Hires
• SCOTUS Limits EPA’s Authority for NPDES Permitting
• Family Farm Alliance Donor Support
• Save the Date! 2025 Alliance Annual Conference                                    

Please do not hesitate to contact dan@familyfarmalliance.org if you have any difficulties downloading the April 2025 “Monthly Briefing”.