PUEBLO, Colo. - The Bureau of Reclamation held a kickoff event for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) Project at Pueblo Dam, Oct. 3, 2020.
Secretary of the Interior David Bernhardt and Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman attended the event for the major infrastructure project, that upon completion will convey clean water from Pueblo Reservoir to 40 communities and a projected future population of 50,000 people in Southeastern Colorado.
“The Arkansas Valley Conduit will provide a reliable long-term water supply to communities relying on groundwater contaminated by naturally occurring toxins. Reclamation is proud to provide a source of safe and clean water to promote health, welfare, and economic opportunity for these Americans," said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Brenda Burman.
President John F. Kennedy signed the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project Act in 1962, authorizing construction of the AVC, but it was not previously constructed because the rural communities could not afford the full cost of the project. Reclamation worked with project sponsors to reduce costs and the need for federal appropriations, and identify additional funding revenues through both federal and state loans and grants. The total cost of the AVC is estimated to be between $564 million and $610 million, and 35 percent of the costs will be repaid by project beneficiaries over a period of up to 50 years.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
