So essentially the government is ringing the door saying, 'We are here to help you.' You are actually going to see some hurt come out of this.

this is of deep concern running throughout the West where water is a private property right.

If the Forest Service would actually have shown up here today to be able to testify, they could probably go into details about that statement.

the biggest water grab in American history in my estimation.

these policies and the impacts that they are going to have on our communities have the great potential literally to be devastating to our farm and ranch communities.

the effects of the Directive are unknown and certainly scary at this point.

Actually, if you read through that, my interpretation of it and apparently we have all got the freedom to be able to look at this is, farmer-rancher could divert legally out of a stream to be able to fill a stock pond, to be able to…

I share your concerns over this overreach by the government and the EPA.

It is going to be under the EPA's jurisdiction.

Do you have ever sense if the EPA is allowed to be able to move forward with these rules, it is no longer your land, no longer your property, no longer your water; that it is now owned by the federal government and it will be controlled…

I think this is the greatest water grab that we have seen by the federal government in the history of the United States.

Chairman Tipton, members of the subcommittee, thank you for holding this hearing.

We are actually going to be punishing people through higher rates because of bad policy?

We need to clearly and definitively get this settled.

So a lot of money for very little impact.

I would like to thank our utility witnesses for making the trip to be with us today, and for sharing their valuable insight on how to improve the existing regulatory framework so we can better protect critical infrastructure, safeguard…

What was the discrepancy between the State of Colorado and the map produced by Garfield County?

Don't you think that ought to be public, if we are talking about transparency?

Our Governor pointed out that we have the best science on the ground in the State of Colorado, and are achieving recovery.

I will fight tooth and nail if you continue to implement these programs that eliminates access to all Americans.

I would encourage you to talk to some of those local communities before some of those road closures actually take place.

We have no certainty in the West for our farm and ranch community when it comes to being able to protect a private property right.

Mr. Ashe, thank you for taking the time to be here.

Are you aware of that disconnect, that there is some frustration out there?

I guess frustration, as you say, it is very clear, apparently, some of the people that are trying to be able to get information doesn't feel it is very clear.