- Department of Interior announces $849 million in funding for 77 water projects across the West.
- $118.3 million allocated to Colorado River Basin states.
- Projects aim to modernize infrastructure and enhance drought resilience.
December 4, 2024 — Yesterday, the Biden-Harris administration announced an $849 million investment to rejuvenate aging water infrastructure across 11 Western states. The funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, will finance 77 projects, including 14 in the Colorado River Basin, totaling $118.3 million. These initiatives aim to bolster drought resilience, improve water delivery, and enhance hydropower capabilities.
Laura Daniel-Davis, Acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior
, emphasized the importance of this funding, saying, “These investments in our aging water infrastructure will conserve community water supplies and revitalize water delivery systems.” The Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez added, “These facilities are essential to the West, providing water for families, farms, and tribal communities, while also supporting hydropower and recreation opportunities.”
Key Projects in Colorado River Basin States.
Complete information about the projects receiving funding is available on the Bureau of Reclamation’s website. The following projects are among those receiving funding in Arizona, California, Colorado, New Mexico, Nevada, Utah, and Wyoming:
- Arizona:
- Glen Canyon Powerplant: $20.2 million to replace station service equipment, including transformers and switchgear.
- Yuma County HDPE Pipe Replacement: $6.5 million to repair failing drainage systems impacting Highway 95.
- Yuma Area Office Utilities Upgrade: $3.59 million to modernize mechanical and electrical systems.
- California:
- Delta Mendota Canal: $204 million to correct structural subsidence and ensure reliable water delivery.
- Coleman National Fish Hatchery Modernization: $20 million for major repairs and rehabilitation.
- Shasta Powerplant Upgrades: $11.2 million to enhance power reliability with a new service transformer.
- Colorado:
- Blue Mesa Powerplant: $32 million to replace critical butterfly valves and modernize operations.
- Boustead Tunnel: $4.63 million to install additional weep holes, reducing hydrostatic pressure risks.
- Mt. Elbert Hydropower Unit: $20 million for critical maintenance and upgrades.
- New Mexico:
- Lower San Acacia Reach Improvements: $143 million to realign 15 miles of the Rio Grande for better sediment management and endangered species habitat.
- Elephant Butte Historic District Rehabilitation: $3.2 million to stabilize historic facilities.
- Sumner Dam Radial Gates: $39.5 million for structural upgrades and improved water flow control.
- Nevada:
- Southern Nevada Water Systems Modernization: Various allocations for projects enhancing water treatment and infrastructure sustainability.
- Utah:
- Deer Creek Powerplant Generator Rewind: $400,000 to modernize hydropower equipment.
- Wyoming:
- Fontenelle Dam and Powerplant Enhancements: Targeted funding for structural improvements and operational reliability.
Preparing for a Resilient Future.
These projects align with the administration’s broader efforts to address the West’s prolonged megadrought, which has been exacerbated by climate change. The funding comes from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, which collectively provide $15.4 billion for western water projects, including $5.35 billion specifically for the Colorado River Basin. The Department of Interior has led critical discussions over how to bring the Colorado River back from the brink of crisis in the face of an unprecedented 24-year drought.
Deputy Commissioner Sanchez highlighted the transformative potential of these investments: “With these funds, we ensure reliability and sustainability for the next generation.”
This announcement marks a significant step in safeguarding water resources for the millions who depend on the Colorado River Basin and other critical water systems across the West.
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Image:
The Boustead Tunnel
(bottom left) discharges into and fills Turquoise Reservoir, July 2011, by Klambpatten (with the Bureau of Reclamation). Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
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