President Barack Obama's "change" theme applies even to the Bureau of Reclamation, the agency's new chief said Thursday. Once known for a single-minded focus on building dams, Reclamation now has to start paying attention to climate change, American Indian water rights and a secure food supply, said Michael Connor, who was sworn in Monday as the agency's commissioner. "Our water supply is going to be changing. The way that water comes to us is going to be changing. That's absolutely one of the key challenges that we need to be preparing for," Connor said, referring to studies that show rising temperatures are bringing less snow and earlier spring snowmelt.

To view the full article, visit the Durango Herald. For a copy of the original article contact the WIP at (970) 247-1302 or stop by the office at 841 East Second Avenue in Durango.