The U.S. Department of the Interior announced $65 million for six rural water projects in fiscal year 2024 through the Bureau of Reclamation.
Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton traveled to Clovis, New Mexico to announce the rural water funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda.
Investments through Reclamation will support six projects already under construction or in the planning phase in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota, and follows $668 million previously announced for rural water projects from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, which Secretary Haaland and Commissioner Touton toured today, will receive $7 million in 2024 to continue the Raw Water Pipeline No. 1 that will transport a critical water supply from Ute Reservoir to approximately 70,000 people in the region who are currently impacted by a rapidly declining aquifer. The Jicarilla Apache Rural Water System in New Mexico will receive an additional $10 million to support design and construction of remaining project components as work nears completion.
In addition to the $17 million in funding for projects in New Mexico, the rural water allocations include:
- $27 million for the Garrison-Diversion Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program in North Dakota to support efforts associated with the expansion of the Fort Berthold, Standing Rock, and Spirit Lake distribution systems, as well as the water treatment for the Northwest Area Water Supply Project.
- $11 million for the Rocky Boys / North Central Montana Rural Water System in Montana to continue construction of core pipeline and begin construction of on-reservation facilities. Funding will also be used to continue construction of non-core segments, such as Hill County Water District.
- $7 million for the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System in South Dakota, Iowa, and Minnesota to support expansion of the water treatment plant.
- $3 million for the Musselshell-Judith Rural Water System in Montana for planning and design of Phase 5, service to the Hobson community.
