Memorandum on Reliable Water Supply and Delivery in Western States

On October 19, 2018, the Trump administration signed Memorandum 2018-23519 directing federal agencies to promote reliable water supply and delivery in western states. The memorandum instructed the Department of Interior and other agencies to review and modify federal water management policies and regulations. The confirmed direct effect included changes to federal water project operations in western states, affecting irrigation deliveries, hydropower generation, and water availability to agricultural and municipal users in the West.