WASHINGTON — Reps. Cory Gardner and Jared Polis both applauded the GOP-controlled House Appropriations Committee Monday for squeezing in $48 million to help 10 states — including Colorado — deal with watershed damage.
Both Gardner’s and Polis’ congressional districts sustained devastating damage to watersheds after the severe wildfires of 2012 tore through drought-stricken Colorado.
While Colorado won’t get all the money, of course, Gardner said the severity of the damage there means it will likely get a large chunk to rebuild and repair soil and land damaged by the natural disasters.
Monday’s decision was a victory for the Colorado delegation which has jointly pushed to get emergency watershed protection money since last year. Previous efforts, including a push in a national disaster relief bill, failed.
“If you look at what happened in the High Park fire, specifically … the damage done to the water shed was catastrophic,” Gardner, R-Yuma, said. “With these funds we’ll be able to make sure we’re mitigating that damage.”
Polis, D-Boulder, said he was “proud to have worked with other members of the Colorado congressional delegation in a bipartisan and bicameral fashion” to secure the $48 million.
Both Democratic Sens. Mark Udall and Michael Bennet are supportive of the effort and hope for success in the Senate, which included the money in the original disaster relief bill.
“The House’s decision to finally provide this assistance to Colorado and other states that suffered devastating natural disasters last year is a welcome sign,” Bennet said, in a statement. “Our communities need these resources to safeguard their drinking water and rebuild in the wake of last year’s terrible wildfire season.”