Small surface and groundwater storage projects will strengthen existing water supplies
Date: Thursday, April 6, 2023
Contact: Interior_Press@ios.doi.gov
WASHINGTON — As part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild our nation’s infrastructure and make communities more resilient to the climate crisis, the Department of the Interior today announced $20 million for four small surface and groundwater storage projects in California and Utah. These projects, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are essential tools to help conserve water and increase the efficiency of water use in the Colorado River Basin.
The announcement comes as Department and Biden-Harris administration officials are traveling across the Colorado River Basin as part the Investing in America tour to highlight investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act. Combined, these laws represent the largest investments in climate resilience in the nation’s history and provide unprecedented resources to support the Administration’s comprehensive, government-wide approach to make Western communities more resilient to drought and climate change.
“As communities across the West continue to face the impacts of ongoing drought, the Biden-Harris administration is making record investments to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System now and into the future,” said Deputy Secretary Tommy Beaudreau. “By working together in close coordination with states, Tribes and other stakeholders, we can provide much needed relief for communities across the West that will have a lasting impact for generations.”
“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is making a historic investment to provide clean, reliable water to families, farmers and Tribes, and increase resilience to drought,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “The funding announced today will boost water storage opportunities and create a more reliable water supply for future generations, by increasing resiliency and providing more flexibility for water managers.”
Projects announced today include:
The Small Storage Program was authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. In accordance with the Law, projects must have a water storage capacity of between 200 acre-feet and 30,000 acre-feet. On September 14, 2022, Reclamation published the first funding opportunity for the Small Storage Program, which closed on December 9, 2022. Eligible projects completed a feasibility study, which was submitted to Reclamation for review.
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is delivering historic resources to communities to help advance drought resilience and strengthen local economies. The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $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 Western drought.
To learn more about implementing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, please visit www.usbr.gov/bil.
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