The Biden administration recently announced $152 million in funding for six water storage projects across the West.
The Department of the Interior announced on July 27 the funding would come through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) passed in 2021. The projects in California, Colorado and Washington are expected to develop at least 1.7 million acre-feet (an acre-foot is 325,851 gallons) of additional water storage capacity, enough water to support 6.8 million people for a year.
The latest funding is part of $8.3 billion over five years allocated for water infrastructure projects through BIL.
“In the wake of severe drought across the West, the department is putting funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to work to provide clean, reliable drinking water to families, farmers and Tribes throughout the West,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in a statement. “Through the investments we’re announcing today, we will expedite essential water storage projects and provide increased water security to western communities.”
The investments include funding for two projects of $10 million each for the expansion of water storage in California’s Central Valley, $30 million for the California Sites Reservoir and $100 million for a safe drinking supply for rural communities along the Arkansas River in Colorado. In addition, the funding includes $1 million each for two projects in Washington.
With this latest round of funding, the total for the Sites Reservoir from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is $244 million. Sites Reservoir will increase California’s water supply by providing 1.5 million acre-feet of additional water storage capacity.
Fritz Durst, chairman of the Sites Project Authority, said in a statement the agency is grateful for the federal support and that the investment exemplifies the “spirit of collaboration that’s been a hallmark of Sites Reservoir.”
According to Colorado Public Radio, the $100 million investment in the Arkansas Valley Conduit will help expedite construction. The project has been six decades in the making and broke ground this past April. Colorado Sens. Michael Bennet (D) and John Hickenlooper (D) wroteto the Bureau of Reclamation, thanking the agency for providing $60 million in funding from BIL funds and asking for additional funds to expedite the project.
The Colorado project estimate is $600 million, and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District’s hope is the 130-mile project could be completed by 2028 with federal funding. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
