Officials from the U.S. Department of the Interior announced an investment of nearly $585 million for infrastructure repairs on water delivery systems throughout the West.
The funding, coming from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, will support 83 projects in 11 states to improve water conveyance and storage, increase safety, provide water treatment and improve hydro power generation.
“These projects have been identified through a rigorous process and is a testament to the Bureau of Reclamation’s commitment to deliver water to future generations,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton. “As we manage through changing climate, we must look to the safety of our projects to ensure that we can continue to provide clean, reliable water to communities, irrigators, and ecosystems across the west.”
Projects will be funded in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota and Washington.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law includes $8.3 billion for Reclamation water infrastructure projects over five years to advance drought resilience and expand access to clean water for families, farmers and wildlife. The investment will repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, complete rural water projects, and protect aquatic ecosystems.
The Inflation Reduction Act is investing another $4.6 billion to address the worsening crisis. Combined, these two initiatives represent the largest investments in climate resilience in the nation’s history.
