The Biden-Harris administration introduced the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investments for Irrigation and Power Projects Across Indian Country program on Wednesday.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will aid communities throughout Indian Country by allocating almost $10 million for irrigation projects and power utilities owned by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).
“Investing in irrigation and power is central to addressing climate change impacts and expanding economic opportunity in Indian Country," Deb Haaland, director of the Department of the Interior (DOI), told the Interior Newswire on Wednesday. "President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law makes historic investments in Tribal communities that will help bolster community resilience, replace aging infrastructure, and provide support needed for climate-related community-driven relocation and adaptation.”
Other officials expressed similar sentiments about the importance of the plan.
“This important funding from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help support farmers, ranchers and communities that rely on BIA infrastructure for economic livelihood and day-to-day services such as delivery of irrigation water or electricity,” Bryan Newland, assistant secretary for Indian Affairs, said in a Wednesday DOI press release.
The release also identified the projects and funding that would be allocated to them: the Yakama Indian Reservation in Washington (Wapato Irrigation Project) – $3.74 million; the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation in Arizona (Colorado River Indian Irrigation Project) – $1.85 million; and the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in Montana (Fort Peck Irrigation Project) – $1.25 million.
Additionally, $1 million in funding will be provided for each of the following projects: the Colorado River Indian Tribes Reservation in Arizona (Colorado River Agency Electrical Services); the Flathead Indian Reservation in Montana (Mission Valley Power - Repairs and upgrades to several power substations); and the San Carlos Indian Reservation and Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona (San Carlos Irrigation Project - Power Division).
In February, the DOI and its bureaus submitted their 2022 fiscal year blueprints to Congress, including spend plans for attempts to plug and reclaim orphaned gas and oil wells, along with a spend plan for efforts to protect habitats and renew ecosystems.
