Deb Haaland Secretary at U.S. Department of Interior | Official website
The Department of the Interior announced today the availability of over $55 million in funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda. This initiative aims to enhance water supply resilience in Western communities affected by drought and climate change. The funding is sourced from the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations.
This drought resilience funding will support various projects designed to improve water management flexibility and reliability. These projects include developing new infrastructure, upgrading existing systems, recharging aquifers, advancing water recycling and treatment, implementing innovative technologies to address water scarcity challenges, and constructing domestic water supply projects benefiting Tribes and disadvantaged communities.
“Through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Department is making transformational investments to develop resilient water supplies that will safeguard western communities in the wake of severe drought conditions for generations to come,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “Today’s announcement will advance innovative solutions and help to build resilient communities.”
“During these hot summer months, we see the impacts of drought intensify through much of the West emphasizing the importance of implementing drought resiliency projects,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “The Investing in America agenda gives us the resources to help communities prepare and respond to water reliability challenges.”
President Biden’s Investing in America agenda represents the largest investment in climate resilience in U.S. history. It provides essential resources to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and climate change effects. The Inflation Reduction Act includes $550 million for domestic water supply projects and $4 billion specifically for water management and conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin and other areas experiencing similar levels of long-term drought. To date, Reclamation has announced 208 drought mitigation projects and 15 domestic water supply projects totaling $2 billion.
This opportunity builds on the Department’s May announcement of $147 million aimed at helping communities prepare for and respond to water reliability challenges due to drought and other water scarcity concerns.
Further details about this opportunity, which will be open until October 7, can be found on Reclamation's WaterSMART Drought Response Program page.
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