Wyoming Representative Harriet Hageman Criticizes California's Role in Colorado River Water Crisis
Wyoming Republican Representative Harriet Hageman has publicly criticized California, asserting that the state's mismanagement of water resources has exacerbated the ongoing Colorado River water crisis. According to Hageman, California has prioritized spending on projects like high-speed rail over essential water infrastructure upgrades, contributing to the record-low levels observed in Lake Powell and Lake Mead. Hageman, who previously worked as a water and natural resources attorney, highlighted that California's water infrastructure largely dates back to the 1960s, despite a significant population increase since then. She argues that California should be held accountable for its failure to adequately address its water needs, suggesting that the state should aggressively pursue desalination of Pacific Ocean water as a solution. Hageman also noted that Wyoming has never utilized its full allocation of the Upper Basin's water, and therefore, its supply should not be depleted to compensate for other states'...