Environmental groups, led by the Natural Resources Defense Council, are petitioning the Trump administration to enforce regulations that limit the use of Colorado River water, particularly in agriculture. They emphasize that water usage should be restricted to 'beneficial' purposes to alleviate the chronic shortages affecting the river. The petition specifically criticizes agricultural practices like flood irrigation, particularly for water-intensive crops such as hay, highlighting that these practices waste precious resources, especially as such crops are increasingly exported to international markets. This represents both a water management issue and a call for sustainable agricultural practices.
Alfalfa and other types of hay are used to feed cattle and other livestock, and in recent years they have been exported in growing quantities to China, Saudi Arabia and other countries.
Gold said, 'There is definitely a great deal of room for improvement in the agricultural sector,' highlighting the need for better water management practices.
Environmental groups are demanding that the Trump administration exercise the federal government's authority to curb wasteful water use in an effort to address the Colorado River's chronic water shortages.
The export of these water-intensive crops is akin to exporting water itself, a resource that is urgently required domestically.
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