- Projects will enhance habitats while saving precious water resources.
- Four Upper Basin states can apply for climate-focused funding.
- Applications open until January 10, 2025.
December 6, 2024 — On Wednesday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation announced a new funding opportunity backed by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda
. The goal is to support habitat restoration and assist threatened species along the Upper Colorado River Basin. At the same time, it’s designed to secure additional water savings in an era of persistent drought tied to climate change. The initiative taps into the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest climate investment in U.S. history—to strengthen ecosystem health and help farmers, ranchers, and communities across Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming adapt to ever-drier conditions.
“This additional funding opportunity continues to help our partners achieve great things,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “Reclamation will continue to work collaboratively … to benefit ecosystem health and water resources while promoting stability and sustainability of the Colorado River system.”
Linking Conservation and Drought Resilience.
This announcement follows recent proposals to revise Colorado River operations after 2026. The Biden-Harris administration’s coordinated efforts have aimed to bring the river back from the brink of crisis amid a 24-year drought, ensuring that water use becomes more reliable and sustainable for future generations. With a successful round of interim agreements in place to guide operations through 2026, the newly released funding supports a long-term vision of balance: it encourages projects that deliver tangible environmental benefits while conserving water—a dual-action approach to resilience.
The funding builds on prior investments. In October 2022, the Department of the Interior dedicated at least $500 million in the Upper Basin States for activities that boost water savings, restore natural habitats, and improve overall river health. Some of those efforts included a System Conservation Pilot Program that saved 104,000 acre-feet of water over two years.
Who Can Apply and How.
Public or Tribal entities, or groups partnering with them, are eligible to apply. Whether it’s restoring a stretch of riverbank habitat or improving irrigation systems to use water more efficiently, the scope is broad. More details—like criteria, instructions, and guidance—are posted on the Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program website. Applications must be submitted by January 10, 2025.
With billions in federal funding flowing to Western states through laws like the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act, resources are available to build drought resilience. As climate change reshapes the Colorado River landscape, these new funds are intended to restore the natural environment while securing water supplies for generations to come.
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