Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Department of the Interior has announced a funding opportunity under President Biden’s Investing in America agenda for ecosystem and habitat restoration projects in the Upper Colorado River Basin. These funds aim to increase community and landscape resiliency while restoring habitats and assisting in species recovery. The Bureau of Reclamation will allocate these funds, made available through the Inflation Reduction Act, for use in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.
The Colorado River Basin supplies water to over 40 million people, supports hydropower resources across seven U.S. states, is vital for 30 Tribal Nations and two Mexican states, and sustains 5.5 million acres of agriculture. Despite recent improvements in hydrology, a prolonged 23-year drought has resulted in record low water levels at Lake Powell and Lake Mead. The Biden-Harris administration has initiated efforts to address this ongoing drought to prevent critically low reservoir levels that could jeopardize water deliveries and power production.
“As communities across the West continue to face the impacts of prolonged and worsening drought, this funding will enhance watershed health and conservation throughout the Upper Basin,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Thanks to historic funding from the Investing in America agenda, the Interior Department is using every resource available to ensure the sustainability of the Colorado River system for the families, farms and economies that rely on it.”
In October 2022, an investment from the Inflation Reduction Act was announced for long-term system efficiency improvements across the basin. This included at least $500 million allocated to Upper Basin States for additional water conservation, environmental benefits, and ecosystem restoration. The Bureau of Reclamation is implementing these funds in two phases. Nearly $50 million was invested earlier to support a System Conservation Pilot Program (SCPP) which aims to conserve 104,000 acre-feet of water by September's end.
“This phase of funding will deliver crucial environmental benefits, driving long-term conservation efforts and mitigating drought severity in each Upper Basin State,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “Reclamation will continue to work collaboratively with stakeholders to leverage this once-in-a-generation investment from the Biden-Harris administration to benefit ecosystem health and water resources.”
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents a significant investment in climate resilience aimed at enhancing Western communities' ability to withstand droughts and climate change effects. Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Reclamation is investing $8.3 billion over five years into various water infrastructure projects including rural water systems, conservation efforts, dam safety measures among others. Additionally, $4.6 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act is designated specifically for strengthening drought resilience across Western states.
Applicants must be public or Tribal entities or partnered with such entities to qualify for project implementation funding. Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria can be found on the Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program website. Applications are open until September 27th with selections expected by late 2024 or early 2025.
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