Several projects to help 36 communities in the west meet the challenges of drought have received $84.7 million through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The funding, which was announced in a Dec. 22 news release, is for projects in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Washington.
“Every community deserves access to clean, reliable water but climate change is exacerbating drought conditions throughout the west,” Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland said in a Dec. 26 post on Twitter. “This funding from @POTUS' Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will bolster drought resilience efforts.”
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s allocation of $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects over the next five years “will repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams, complete rural water projects and protect aquatic ecosystems,” the release reported.
Only a tiny portion of the allocated money for water reclamation is provided through the $1 billion WaterSMART innovative program, according to the Department of the Interior website. It supports programs operated by states, Tribes and local entities as they modernize existing infrastructure and avoid potential water conflicts exacerbated by drought.
“This investment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in locally-led projects will help solidify community's water supplies and allow families and farmers to respond to the challenges posed by drought,” Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said in the release.
