As part of the Investing in America agenda by President Joe Biden, the Department of the Interior announced that $140 million will be going toward 84 conservation and efficiency projects in 15 western states as part of conserving more than 230,000 acre-feet each year.
According to a release on April 21 by the Bureau of Reclamation, the projects are for enhancing the resilience of the western states to drought and climate change.
“Delivering water more efficiently is key to helping Western communities become more resilient to drought,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. "For more than 120 years, Reclamation and its partners have developed sustainable water and power solutions for the West. With increased funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act, we’re able to expand that work, extending collaboration and expanding conservation.”
The funds are through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations and also help fund irrigation and water districts, states and tribes. The 230,00 acre-feet of water is equal to 77 billion gallons of water, which is enough for 940,000 people.
“As we work to address record drought and changing climate conditions throughout the West, we are bringing every resource to bear to conserve local water supplies and support the long-term stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System,” said Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau. “The projects we are funding today are locally led and will support increased water conservation through innovative efficiency measures.”
A release by the Bureau of Reclamation stated that the projects are being funded in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, and Washington. The 2023 WaterSMART grant projects are available here.
There are 12 projects receiving more than $20 million in federal funds, which leads to $44.7 million in infrastructure investments in the Colorado River Basin. Once they are completed the projects will result in a combined annual water savings of $29,000 acre-feet in the Colorado River System. There are another 32 projects in California receiving $46.7 million in federal funds. These projects will lead to $164.3 million in infrastructure investments, and also a combined annual savings of more than 65,000 acre-feet upon completion.
