A Republican lawmaker has voiced concerns that California's struggles with water infrastructure and management are creating a crisis that could jeopardize food supplies across the United States. Rep. Harriet Hageman, R-Wyo., contends that the Golden State's increasing dependence on the Colorado River, a critical water source for millions in the Western U.S., is exacerbating its supply and affecting the six other states through which the river flows.
Hageman stated that California's infrastructure has not kept pace with the needs of its growing population, leading to a stressed water system. She criticized California Governor Gavin Newsom, accusing him of prioritizing politics over effective water management. According to Hageman, the state's environmental regulations and policies hinder necessary infrastructure development, including new dams and water projects.
"The system is now becoming very, very stressed because California has not kept up with the infrastructure demands and needs of its citizens," Hageman told Fox News Digital. "Pinedale, Wyoming, may be a long way removed from Southern California, but when there are calls on the river and when there are demands that we reduce the amount of water that we are able to use in order to meet a demand downstream, that isn't fair."
This situation, Hageman argued, is detrimental to California's agricultural sector, which relies on irrigation water from the Colorado River. She suggested that a weakened agricultural industry in California could have nationwide consequences, potentially reducing the country's capacity for food production.
"California could grow almost all the food we need in the United States, but they've really decimated their Ag industry because they've taken irrigation water away from their Ag industry to try to meet municipal demand and industrial demand elsewhere," she said. "Food independence is a national security issue. We do not want to become food dependent on Mexico or Central America or bringing all of our food in from other countries. We have the resources to grow healthy, high-quality food right here while also protecting our environment."
Environmental groups have expressed opposition to new dam construction in California, citing concerns about climate change and biodiversity. Hageman, however, criticized these stances, describing opponents as "backwards people" who ignore the role of humans in the environment and the benefits of infrastructure development.
The Colorado River, which serves Arizona, California, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming, has faced significant challenges due to climate change and increased demand. These pressures have led to discussions about updating existing water-sharing agreements among the seven states.
California has reported reducing its use of Colorado River water to its lowest level since 1949 and has invested in new water infrastructure, including a projected $6.8 billion reservoir project slated for completion in the mid-2030s. A spokesperson for the California Natural Resources Agency emphasized the state's reduced dependency and ongoing investments in water supply, while also calling for shared responsibility among all basin states.
"California’s Colorado River use is at its lowest since 1949 – and our urban water agencies have reduced their demand for imports by 50% since 2000," the spokesperson stated. "Even with that, we continue to invest billions of dollars to increase water supply as we face changing conditions driven by climate change. All Basin states must share the responsibility of caring for the Colorado River for generations to come – and that means real conservation from all seven states."