Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley teamed up with U.S. Senator Mitt Romney (R-UT) today to introduce their Ley del Programa de Ecosistemas de Lagos Salinos en los Estados de la Gran Cuenca—bipartisan legislation to facilitate an integrated regional assessment of saline lake ecosystems that would fill a critical data gap that has made it nearly impossible to address a variety of problems caused by declining water levels.
Saline lakes line wetlands across the West Coast, serving as habitats for a diverse array of wildlife and providing important economic and social benefits to nearby communities.
"Nuestras tierras y aguas, incluidos nuestros lagos salinos como el lago Abert y el lago Goose, son parte integral del futuro de innumerables animales y aves migratorias, así como de la calidad de vida y los medios de subsistencia de los habitantes de Oregón". dijo el senador Merkley. “These ecosystems must be protected, but we can’t do that without sufficient data. So let’s work to secure the studies and science we need to put long-term plans into action, so we can ensure that our saline lakes ecosystem can thrive for generations to come.”
“El Gran Lago Salado es el lago salino más grande del hemisferio occidental y uno de los más grandes del mundo. También es una parte icónica y querida de Utah”. Senator Romney said. “I’m proud to lead this legislation with Senator Merkley, which will establish a scientific foundation and ongoing monitoring system to inform coordinated management and conservation actions for threatened Great Basin saline lake ecosystems and the communities who depend on them. This legislation should complement and help elevate the work already being done by the State of Utah to understand this key resource and the role it plays as part of the larger landscape.”
Específicamente, los ecosistemas de lagos salinos en el Ley del Programa de los Estados de la Gran Cuenca autorizaría un estudio por parte del Servicio Geológico de EE. UU. (USGS, por sus siglas en inglés), junto con el Servicio de Pesca y Vida Silvestre de EE. UU. (FWS, por sus siglas en inglés) y otras agencias federales, estatales, tribales y locales, universidades de investigación, organizaciones sin fines de lucro y otros socios, en para formar un plan de acción para un sólido programa integrado de varios años para evaluar, monitorear y conservar los ecosistemas de lagos salinos.
“Los lagos salinos y sus humedales en el árido oeste sustentan a millones de aves migratorias al mismo tiempo que benefician a las comunidades locales y sus economías”, said Marcelle Shoop, Audubon’s Saline Lakes Program Director. “This science-based legislation comes at such an important time—as we see lakes across the Great Basin drying at an alarming rate. The regional program will build on existing knowledge to help us understand how water supplies and habitats are changing, and identify opportunities where we all can work together on solutions that protect bird habitat and communities. We’re grateful for the leadership of Senator Merkley and Senator Romney in championing this important legislation.”
“Desert saline lakes, including Oregon’s Lake Abert, provide food, water, and safe harbor for millions of migrating birds that traverse the Pacific Flyway every year. With huge flocks of ducks, gulls and wading birds all congregating here at once, it can be a pretty raucous place during the spring and fall migration! Long-term conservation, management and restoration of these unique habitats starts with a deep understanding of their hydrology, biology and ecology. Senator Merkley’s legislation is vital to conducting this needed research. We applaud his commitment to understanding and ultimately conserving these fragile ecosystems,” said Ryan Houston, Executive Director, Oregon Natural Desert Association.
“Lake Abert is a unique lake in Oregon and one of only three similar hypersaline lakes in the Great Basin that provide critical summer habitat and food to fatten many thousands of migratory shorebirds. There’s much we don’t understand about this special ecosystem that is threatened by climate change. The saline lakes bill spearheaded by Senator Merkley will be a huge boost to begin filling gaps in our knowledge,” said Theo Dreher, President, Oregon Lakes Association.
Merkley and Romney were joined in the introduction by U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV).
El texto completo de la legislación está disponible. aquí.
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