STATEMENT OF THOMAS A. WEBER
DEPUTY CHIEF FOR PROGRAMS
NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Before the
SENATE COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT AND PUBLIC
WORKS SUBCOMMITTEE ON FISHERIES, WILDLIFE, AND WATER
November 14, 2001
Mr. Chairman, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the opportunity to appear today and present views on behalf of the United States Department of Agriculture, regarding water supply issues in our nation. I am Tom Weber, Deputy Chief for Programs at the Department’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The mission of NRCS is to provide leadership in a partnership effort to help people conserve, improve, and sustain our natural resources and environment. Our agency was created in response to the Dust Bowl days of the 1930’s, helping farmers and ranchers manage and conserve water resources has remained among our principal activities.
As most Members on this Committee are already aware ,
America’s farmers are among the most productive in the world. They feed our
population with the highest quality, safest, and most affordable food anywhere,
while producing food for others all around the world. Today, farmers face new challenges, many associated with the use
of natural resources. These include the
soil health, air quality, and wildlife habitat issues. But around the country, farmers and ranchers
face ever increasing concern for the quantity and quality of water.
Persistent shortages of water and prolonged abnormal
moisture deficiencies adversely and permanently affect vegetation, animals, and
people. Recently, Secretary of
Agriculture, Ann Veneman released, Food
and Agriculture Policy: Taking Stock for the New Century. This document is our long-term view of the
Nation’s agriculture and food system, with emphasis on the conservation of
natural resources. We propose that our
policies not only build upon past gains in resource conservation, but also must
prepare us to respond to emerging challenges such as the inextricable link between
water supply and agriculture. Without
question, the future of our farms and water supplies are interdependent and are
exemplified by the following facts:
· Nationwide,
agriculture accounts for nearly 80 percent of all water consumption.
· Three-quarters
of all cropland in the Western United States is irrigated.
· The 16
percent of harvested cropland that is irrigated accounts for nearly half of the
value of all crops sold.
· Nationwide,
nearly 100 percent of all orchard sales and more than 80 percent of the sales
of vegetables and potatoes are produced on irrigated cropland.
Throughout the country, demand for water is increasing, with added
pressures from municipal use and urbanization.
I would add that prior to coming to Washington, D.C. I served with NRCS
in California and also as State Conservationist in New Mexico. From my work in these states, I can attest
that the experiences of the West on water supply issues may be a foreshadow of
emerging conflicts in other regions of the country.
While
we are not being able to control the precipitation, we do believe that
agriculture is uniquely positioned to be part of the solution to water
issues. From its inception, NRCS has
helped farmers and ranchers with on-farm water management. Following are a few examples of ways we can
help:
We
believe that the best approach is to begin with a proactive conservation plan
and then implement it. NRCS field
conservationists provide technical assistance to farmers and ranchers to
develop voluntary resource conservation plans.
Conservation technical assistance does not regulate or compel farmers to
accept practices, but instead encourages them by demonstrating the benefits of
conservation. In addition, NRCS field staff identify opportunities for other
forms of USDA incentives-based conservation assistance, including cost-share,
conservation easements, and other opportunities.
NRCS also offers an array of opportunities to farmers and ranchers facing water-related concerns. Included in these, are the following programs:
This
program provides technical, educational, and financial assistance to farmers
and ranchers in high-priority regions for protecting soil, water, and related
natural resources. Water conservation
is one of the resource concerns brought forth from the locally led process that
sets priorities for this assistance.
This
program provides long-term drought prevention by protecting the swamps and
marshes that conserve water and water-loving plants and animals. Landowners establish 30-year or permanent
conservation easements or sign restoration cost-share agreements. Wetland restoration provides many water
conservation benefits such as to augment low stream flows and provide water
critical to wildlife.
Watersheds and Flood Prevention Operations Program (Small Watershed
Program)
The
Watersheds program engages state and other public agencies (called project
sponsors) in water and land treatment projects. These partners enhance flood control, watershed management, water
conservation, municipal and industrial water supply, recreation, and fish and
wildlife protection. Since 1944,
conservation partners have built more than 10,000 flood prevention structures
across the country. Many of these
structures have provided communities with additional water supplies crucial
during droughts.
This
program is targeted to communities--as opposed to individuals--by relieving
imminent hazards to life and property caused by floods, fires, windstorms,
droughts and other natural occurrences.
The Emergency Watershed Protection program is a recovery program. Other programs solve problems that predated
the disasters or prevent future disasters.
The Natural Resources Conservation Service provides technical assistance
and pays as much as 75 percent of the costs for emergency repairs, such as
removing debris from a stream. We also
purchase easements from willing landowners on flood prone areas to prevent
future crop losses.
There
are many challenges facing America’s farmers and ranchers on water quality and
quantity issues. We believe that
incentives and technical support for improved on-farm water management, and
sound resource data and assessment, can make a real difference. In 1998, Congress enacted the National
Drought Policy Act. The law established
an advisory commission to provide advice and recommendations on the creation of
an integrated coordinated Federal policy designed to prepare for and respond to
serious drought emergencies. The 15-member
commission consisted of farmers, ranchers, and government officials from around
the country and was chaired by the Secretary of Agriculture. The commission presented a report to
Congress in May 2000 entitled, “Drought in the 21st Century”.
The
Commission made several recommendations regarding NRCS including support for
technical assistance and funding for voluntary programs such as the
Environmental Quality Incentives Program.
The Commission also recommended expansion of resource inventory and technology
capacity of NRCS as well as encouraging accelerated work with tribes, states,
counties, and towns to develop and maintain drought preparedness plans.
Congress
is currently working toward reshaping agriculture policy for the future through
reauthorization of the Farm Bill.
Without question, water and agriculture will continue to weigh heavily
into these discussions and consideration.
One of the central themes is that future policies must square with
today’s realities. Without question,
the reality that many of our nation’s farmers and ranchers face is an
increasingly scarce supplies of water, and increasing pressure and competition
for the water. It is difficult enough
to be productive and profitable today in agricultural production, and adequate
and affordable production inputs such as water are crucial. I would conclude by reiterating that even if
we are not able to control the weather, conservation programs can play an
important role in helping provide local people with the tools and assistance to
mitigate the effects of water shortages.
I thank the Chairman, and would be happy to respond to any questions that members of the Committee might have.