Herbert asks President Obama for drought help

FILE -- In this Feb. 4, 2014 file photo a warning buoy sits on the dry, cracked bed of Lake Mendocino near Ukiah, Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown was governor the last time California had a drought of epic proportions, in 1975-76 and now is pushing a controversial $25 billion plan to build twin tunnels to ship water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta to farmland and cities further south. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, file)

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) – Utah Gov. Gary Herbert asked President Barack Obama to give more help to Western states during drought season.

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that Herbert pressed President Obama on the topic Monday during a meeting that also included Vice President Joe Biden, several Cabinet members and other governors.

Herbert says water issues were the top issue in the meeting.

Herbert told the President that Utah needs more money to finish the Central Utah Project that gets and stores water for the Salt Lake City area.

Herbert is the chair of the Western Governors Association. That group is working to coordinate assistance for states affected by drought.

Herbert says the White House listened but didn’t make any guarantees.

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