WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-sponsored legislation to get critical water use data in the hands of farmers, ranchers, and decision-makers for improved water management in Utah and across the Western U.S. The Open Access Evapotranspiration (OpenET) Act would establish a program to use publicly available data from satellites and weather stations to provide estimates of evapotranspiration (ET), a critical measure of actual water use.

“Last year, 100% of Utah faced extreme drought, higher costs, and fewer crop yields,” said Rep. Owens. “The Open Access Evapotranspiration Act will transform water management in Utah and across the west by improving how we track water consumption, evaporation, and transpiration, ultimately helping our farmers, ranchers, and agricultural producers maximize supply and increase output.”

The full text of the bill is available here.

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