SLC Times

Tonight, the Senate passed two bills led by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) by unanimous consent. These bills, S.2151 and S.5000, now await passage in the House. S.2151 focuses on enhancing wildfire research, while S.5000 addresses the harmful impacts of hydropower reductions at Glen Canyon Dam.

“These bills reflect Utah’s unique regional challenges and our commitment to finding practical solutions,” said Senator Lee. “The Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act will equip us with better tools to combat wildfires, while S. 5000 ensures that federal agencies work together to balance needed hydropower generation with ecological conservation. I’m proud to see these measures advance through the Senate.”

S.2151, known as the Utah Wildfire Research Institute Act, establishes a federal wildfire research institute at Utah State University to study wildfire ecology and develop innovative solutions for reducing wildfire risks. The institute will collaborate with local, state, and federal partners to improve forest and rangeland management and implement strategies for long-term ecological restoration.

S.5000 involves addressing Glen Canyon Dam's hydropower and environmental impacts by establishing a memorandum of understanding between various entities including the Bureau of Reclamation, Fish and Wildlife Service, Western Area Power Administration, and Colorado River Energy Distributors Association. This bill aims to analyze and address the impacts of the Glen Canyon Dam Long-Term Experimental and Management Plan (LTEMP), which currently requires cessation of hydropower production during specific periods to protect a threatened fish species.

The bill ensures collaboration among federal agencies and stakeholders to mitigate loss of hydropower generation while protecting resources in the Colorado River Basin's ecosystems and balancing energy production with species conservation.