Western States Water
Issue #1815
February 27, 2009
Addressing Water Needs and Strategies for a Sustainable future

FY2010 Budget Request

Some of the major water-related highlights of the President's budget outline follow. The Department of Agriculture would receive $268, in addition to the $27.68 in theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), which also included $700M in mandatory farm disaster assistance. The FY2010 budget includes $119M through the Land and Water Conservation Fund for the U.S. Forest Service to acquire easements on forested lands under development pressure to protect air and water quality and provide habitat for threatened or endangered species. "The Administration fUlly supports partnering with landowners to conserve land, protect wetlands, improve wildlife habitat...and promote other conservation initiatives ... including the Conservation Stewardship Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and the Environmental Quality Incentives Program and conservation tax incentives that were provided in the 2008 Farm 8i11." Recognizing that America's farmers have been on the forefront of the renewable fuels movement (biofuels and wind), the budget requests an additional $250M in loans/grants. Of note, the proposed budget reduces direct payments, reduces crop insurance premium subsidies, and would eliminate the Resource Conservation and Development program. The Department of Commerce would see a jump of nearly $68 (from $7.98 in FY2008) to$13.88 in FY2010, in addition to the ARRA's $7.98. There is a $1.38 request for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for development and acquisition of vital weather satellites and climate sensors, and to advance climate and ocean research (again in addition to the ARRA's $600M for NOAA research and $230M for habitat restoration, hydrographic services and research)'.