Wedoany.com Report-Dec 12, The Biden-Harris Administration announced an $849 million investment to modernize aging water infrastructure and bolster drought resilience in 11 Western states. The funding, part of President Biden’s Investing in America initiative, will support 77 projects aimed at improving water delivery systems, storage, safety, and hydropower generation, as well as enhancing water treatment.
Among the projects, 14 in the Colorado River Basin will receive $118.3 million. The Basin has been a focal point of federal efforts to address a 24-year drought that has pushed the region to the brink of crisis.
“President Biden’s Investing in America agenda provides transformational resources to safeguard clean, reliable water for families, farmers, and Tribes,” said Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis. She emphasized the importance of addressing record drought conditions and modernizing infrastructure to conserve water supplies and improve delivery systems.
The Bureau of Reclamation, which oversees many of these projects, underscored its commitment to sustainability. “These facilities are essential to the West as they provide water for families, farms, and Tribal communities, while also producing hydropower and recreation opportunities,” said Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez.
Projects receiving funding include:
Glen Canyon Station Service Equipment Replacement: $20.2 million will fund planning, design, and implementation to replace the station service transformers and switchgears.
Shasta Dam Outlet Works Rehabilitation: $9.55 million will modernize and rehabilitate outlet valves at the 850′ and 950′ elevations, including telemetry, controls, and mechanical subsystems.
Bradbury Dam Outlet Valve Replacement: $8.25 million will replace 30-inch valves to improve water release efficiency, covering planning, design, and implementation.
Blue Mesa Powerplant Butterfly Valves Replacement: $32 million will replace two large butterfly valves and refurbish existing Ring Follower Gates, with funding for planning, design, and implementation.
Pishkun Outlet Rehabilitation: $19 million will replace the outlet structure and evaluate hydropower components, including planning, design, and implementation.
The projects span all major river basins managed by the Bureau of Reclamation, encompassing upgrades to canals, water treatment systems for Tribal communities, and maintenance of hydropower facilities.
The funding reflects a broader strategy by the Biden Administration to tackle climate change and its impacts on Western water resources. The Colorado River Basin, experiencing its driest period in over a thousand years, has received significant attention. Federal investments from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act total $15.4 billion for Western water resilience, including $5.35 billion dedicated to over 577 projects in the Colorado River Basin.
