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The US Department of the Interior has announced an $849 million investment to revitalize aging water delivery systems across the West from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. The funding supports 77 projects, including 14 projects worth $118.3 million in the Colorado River Basin, aimed at improving water conveyance and storage, safety, hydropower generation, and water treatment. This move follows the Biden-Harris administration’s efforts to address the critical issue of drought in the Colorado River Basin and throughout the West, and is part of a broader effort to make Western communities more resilient to climate change.
Interior Department Announces Major Investment in Western Water Systems
Tuesday, December 3, 2024
The Department of the Interior announced a significant $849 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This funding will rejuvenate aging water delivery systems across the West, supporting 77 projects aimed at improving water conveyance and storage, boosting safety measures, enhancing hydropower generation, and facilitating effective water treatment.
Today’s investment forms part of the larger Biden-Harris administration’s strategy to combat the ongoing effects of a record 24-year drought in the Colorado River Basin. The administration achieved a consensus agreement in 2023 over interim operation plans and continues working on determining post-2026 operations for the Colorado River.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda offers essential resources to protect clean, reliable water for families, farmers, and Tribes,” noted Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. Today’s announcement comes alongside efforts taken by the Bureau of Reclamation to utilize these substantial investments to renew the infrastructure for future generations.
Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez visited the Lower San Acacia Reach Improvements project in New Mexico, which will receive $143 million to enhance the Rio Grande’s water conveyance and manage sediment.
The funded projects span all major river basins and regions where the Bureau of Reclamation operates. They focus on restoring canal capacity, sustaining water treatment for Tribes, replacing equipment for hydropower production, and maintaining aging project buildings.
Under the Investing in America agenda, the administration has directed significant efforts towards making Western communities more resilient to climate change and combating the region’s megadrought. The Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provide a historic $15.4 billion for Western water to enhance drought resilience and safeguard the Colorado River System.
For a comprehensive list of today’s funded projects, visit the Bureau of Reclamation’s website.
This funding announcement follows a recent USDA funding announcement, highlighting the coordinated approach undertaken by the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure a sustainable water supply in the Colorado River Basin.
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