UTAH DROUGHT

Bipartisan Romney river trip to explore climate change solutions

Sep 21, 2021, 1:10 PM | Updated: Feb 23, 2023, 1:27 pm

romney colorado river trip...

Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., floated the Colorado River as part of a bipartisan trip to explore climate change solutions. Photo provided by Mitt Romney.

MOAB, Utah — Mitt Romney may not look like a seasoned Colorado River rafter, but the Utah Republican and a Democrat colleague from the Senate led just such a trip in search of solutions to climate change. 

Romney, a US senator from Utah, and Sen. Michael Bennet, D-Colo., floated the river from Hittle Bottom to the Rocky Rapid campground, outside of Moab. 

On his website, Romney said they made the river trip alongside leaders from both states in the areas of local government, business, agriculture, water and the environment. That included Utah’s lieutenant governor. 

“What we are witnessing in Utah and throughout the West is an historic drought,” Romney said in a statement. “The changing climate means that we are going to have to rethink how we solve the West’s water challenges, and today’s trip was an opportunity to begin to build consensus toward addressing them.” 

Romney said the river trip came about at Bennet’s invitation. For his part, Bennet said he appreciated the chance to visit Utah and take a bipartisan approach. 

“In the West, we come together to take on shared challenges, and we need that same spirit in Washington to create meaningful and durable solutions to climate change,” Bennet said.

This story will be updated. 

Read more: 

We want to hear from you.

Have a story idea or tip? Send it to the KSL NewsRadio team here.

Utah Drought

Utah's water supply is doing well. Promontory Point during an EcoFlight around the Great Salt Lake....

Adam Small

Salt Lake having very dry April, but Utah’s water supply is still in top-notch shape

Utah's water supply is growing but Salt Lake City received a dry start to April. Utah might have something to worry about if May is dry.

3 hours ago

an aerial photo shows the great salt lake, water level outlook is looking good for the lake...

Adam Small

The Great Salt Lake has a chance to be healthy again for the first time in over a decade

The water level in the Great Salt Lake is 1.5 feet from the tail-end of its healthy range of 4,196 to 4,200 feet.

2 days ago

Sprinkler goes off, wondering when to turn on sprinklers?...

Adam Small

Don’t turn on the sprinklers just yet, expert says

Wondering when to turn on sprinklers now that we've been having warmer weather? Follow these guidelines to keep your lawn alive while still conserving water.

4 days ago

Warm weather will all for some of the Utah snowpack to begin melting off this weekend....

Adam Small

Utah temperatures warming up, strong snowpack set to start melting

Temperatures in Utah are going to get much warmer over the next few days, allowing for the snowpack we've accumulated to start melting off.

8 days ago

A screenshot from the Utah Division of Natural Resources website shows information about Panguitch ...

Kira Hoffelmeyer and Michael Camit

Panguitch Lake dam has a growing crack, residents on notice to evacuate

Some people in Garfield County are on standby to evacuate this morning because of growing concerns about a crack in the Panguitch Lake Dam.

9 days ago

runoff...

Curt Gresseth

Eubank gazes into snow globe to predict spring runoff in Utah

KSL Meteorologist Kevin Eubank talks about the abundant snowpack and what to expect from the spring runoff in Utah.

14 days ago

Sponsored Articles

a person dressed up as a nordic viking in a dragon boat resembling the bear lake monster...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

The Legend of the Bear Lake Monster

The Bear Lake monster has captivated people in the region for centuries, with tales that range from the believable to the bizarre.

...

Live Nation Concerts

All the artists coming to Utah First Credit Union Amphitheatre (formerly USANA Amp) this summer

Summer concerts are more than just entertainment; they’re a celebration of life, love, and connection.

Mother and cute toddler child in a little fancy wooden cottage, reading a book, drinking tea and en...

Visit Bear Lake

How to find the best winter lodging in Bear Lake, Utah

Winter lodging in Bear Lake can be more limited than in the summer, but with some careful planning you can easily book your next winter trip.

Happy family in winter clothing at the ski resort, winter time, watching at mountains in front of t...

Visit Bear Lake

Ski more for less: Affordable ski resorts near Bear Lake, Utah

Plan your perfect ski getaway in Bear Lake this winter, with pristine slopes, affordable tickets, and breathtaking scenery.

front of the Butch Cassidy museum with a man in a cowboy hat standing in the doorway...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

Looking Back: The History of Bear Lake

The history of Bear Lake is full of fascinating stories. At over 250,000 years old, the lake has seen generations of people visit its shores.

silhouette of a family looking over a lake with a bird in the top corner flying...

Bear Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau

8 Fun Activities To Do in Bear Lake Without Getting in the Water

Bear Lake offers plenty of activities for the whole family to enjoy without having to get in the water. Catch 8 of our favorite activities.

Bipartisan Romney river trip to explore climate change solutions