The Biden administration announced $64 million in funding for a three-year water conservation agreement with Arizona irrigation districts and Tribes to keep water in Lake Mead.
On Nov. 3, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton announced seven new agreements in Arizona to conserve 162,710 acre-feet of water (an acre-foot is 325,851 gallons) through funding from the Investing in America Agenda.
“Thanks to President Biden’s Investing in America agenda, the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program is helping address, improve and protect the long-term stability of the Colorado River System,” said Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Biden-Harris administration is using every tool and resource at our disposal to continue our sustained, collaborative progress in increasing water conservation across the West.”
President Joe Biden announced funding through the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law in April to assist Western states in becoming more resilient to drought. The funding would assist in water conservation measures and other projects to keep water in the Colorado River, Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
Irrigators from the Yuma Mesa Irrigation and Drainage District and Mohave Valley Irrigation and Drainage District announced the most extensive agreements through 2025 to conserve a combined 114,780 acre-feet. Agreements were also made with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, the Hopi Tribe, the Cibola Valley Irrigation District, Spanish Trails Water and Cathcart Farms.
The new agreements build upon previous agreements made in the state to conserve up to 348,680 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead in 2023 and up to 984,429 acre-feet through 2026.
In March, The Lower Basin states of Arizona, California and Nevada announced an agreement to conserve up to 3 million acre-feet through 2026, with 2.3 million acre-feet compensated through the Inflation Reduction Act to preserve levels in Lake Mead and Lake Powell.
To date, the administration has announced over $700 million in funding for water infrastructure projects in Colorado River Basin states. — Charles Wallace, WLJ contributing editor
