Oregon Public Broadcasting

Two environmental groups filed a lawsuit in Seattle Monday against the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.

The groups are challenging a state and federal plan to divert millions of gallons water from Lake Roosevelt in central Washington.

Rachael Paschal Osborn from the Center for Environmental Law and Policy says the bureau hasn’t considered the potential effects of climate change on the Columbia River.

Rachael Osborn: “There’s going to be a lot less water in the summertime. We’re very concerned about this and think this should be a number one priority for the bureau to be studying.”

The Lake Roosevelt plan would divert water to irrigate farms, for use in cities and to help migrating fish downstream.

Reclamation spokeswoman Diana Cross says the agency hasn’t seen the lawsuit. But she says she’s disappointed to see resistance to the plan.