The Department of the Interior has announced a $514 million investment aimed at enhancing water infrastructure in Western communities. This funding is part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda and will support five water storage and conveyance projects to provide clean, reliable drinking water.

Secretary Deb Haaland emphasized the significance of these investments, stating, “President Biden’s Investing in America agenda has allowed us to begin work on long overdue water storage projects, providing clean, reliable drinking water to families, farmers and Tribes throughout the West.”

During a visit to Colorado, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton highlighted the Arkansas Valley Conduit Project's receipt of $250 million. The project has previously secured nearly $340 million for major contracts and pipeline installation. Once completed, it aims to replace groundwater sources contaminated with radionuclides and help communities meet drinking water standards by delivering up to 7,500 acre-feet annually from Pueblo Reservoir.

“We are proud to see the work underway because of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda,” said Commissioner Touton. “But there’s much more work to be done and we are again investing in this important project to bring safe drinking water to an estimated 50,000 people in 39 rural communities along the Arkansas River.”

This funding builds upon allocations from previous years under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It represents a significant investment in climate resilience for Western communities facing drought and climate change challenges. Through this law, Reclamation is allocating $8.3 billion over five years for various water infrastructure initiatives.

Additional projects receiving funds include:

- In California: The B.F. Sisk Dam Raise and Reservoir Expansion Project will receive $125 million for enhanced off-stream storage capability alongside ongoing safety modifications. The Sites Reservoir Project will get $129 million for new storage development on the Sacramento River system.

- In Idaho: The Anderson Ranch Dam Raise Project is allocated $7 million as part of efforts with the Idaho Water Resources Board.

- In Washington: The Cle Elum Pool Raise Project will receive $3 million for increasing reservoir capacity managed for instream fish flows.