Biden-Harris administration invests $514 million in Western water infrastructure projects
(UI) — The Biden-Harris administration has announced $514 million for five major water projects across the Western United States.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has allowed us to begin work on long overdue water storage projects, providing clean, reliable drinking water to families, farmers, and Tribes throughout the West,” Interior Secretary Deb Haaland said. “These investments will expedite essential projects and enhance water security for Western communities.”
The funding includes $250 million for Colorado’s Arkansas Valley Conduit Project. This project, which has already received nearly $340 million in previous funding, involves building over 121 miles of pipeline to deliver up to 7,500 acre-feet of water per year from Pueblo Reservoir. Once completed, it will replace contaminated groundwater sources and help 39 rural communities comply with drinking water standards.
“We are proud to see the work underway because of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said during a visit to Colorado. “This investment will bring safe drinking water to an estimated 50,000 people along the Arkansas River.”
Other projects receiving funding include:
- California:
- B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project: $125 million for 130,000 acre-feet of additional storage to benefit water contractors and wildlife refuges.
- Sites Reservoir Project: $129 million for up to 1.5 million acre-feet of new off-stream water storage, with benefits for fish populations and water management.
- Idaho:
- Anderson Ranch Dam Raise Project: $7 million to add 29,000 acre-feet of storage for improved drought resilience.
- Washington:
- Cle Elum Pool Raise Project: $3 million to increase reservoir capacity by 14,600 acre-feet, benefiting instream flows for fish populations.
These projects are part of a broader $8.3 billion investment over five years under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Since its enactment, the Bureau of Reclamation has allocated nearly $5.3 billion for over 670 water infrastructure projects.
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