Federal Government Invests Over $700 Million in Water Projects for Drought and Climate Resilience

Last week the Department of the Interior announced $728 million in investments to support water conservation and reliability to improve resilience to drought and climate change. A significant amount of the funding came from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law passed in late 2021.

Through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, seven authorized rural water projects under construction in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, and South Dakota will receive $278 million. In one example, $60 million is being allocated for the Lewis & Clark Rural Water System in Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota to support a water treatment plant, construction associated with the Sibley service area, and to reimburse states for related costs. Additionally, the Bureau of Reclamation is also making available up to $125 million to support the relaunch of a System Conservation Pilot Program in the Upper Colorado River Basin. The renewed program – funded with an initial allocation through the Inflation Reduction Act – will help support water management and conservation efforts to improve water efficiency and ultimately protect the short-term sustainability of the Colorado River System. All this funding is in addition to the over $325 million in fiscal year 2023 funding the Bureau of Reclamation has allocated for ongoing work on drought resilience projects across the country. Read more at the U.S. Department of the Interior.