The Department of the Interior has announced an investment of nearly $105 million as part of the President’s Investing in America initiative, aimed at funding 67 projects focused on water conservation and efficiency to improve drought resilience nationwide.
This funding is sourced from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual budget allocations.
President Biden’s Investing in America initiative marks the largest commitment to climate resilience in U.S. history, providing essential resources to bolster the drought resilience of communities in the West and address the impacts of climate change.
The Bureau of Reclamation is allocating a total of $8.3 billion over five years for various water infrastructure projects, including rural water systems, storage, conservation, nature-based solutions, dam safety, water purification and reuse, and desalination.
Since the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law was enacted in November 2021, Reclamation has announced $4.2 billion for 575 projects thus far.
“Access to clean and dependable water is crucial for feeding families, cultivating crops, supporting wildlife, and energizing agricultural enterprises,” stated Acting Deputy Secretary Laura Daniel-Davis.
“Thanks to the President’s Investing in America initiative, the Biden-Harris administration is deploying unprecedented resources to ensure the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River Basin amid severe drought conditions, while also protecting communities throughout the West by enhancing climate resilience and promoting water conservation.”
“As we strive to mitigate the effects of drought and climate change, we must seize opportunities to boost water and energy efficiency wherever feasible,” remarked Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton.
“The President’s Investing in America initiative offers the necessary resources to expand conservation efforts, which include canal lining, meter installations, conservation incentives, and gate automation.”
Reclamation expects these projects, situated in states such as Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming, to conserve over 111,000 acre-feet of water each year, enough to provide for approximately 447,000 individuals annually.
This builds on the $140 million allocated for water and energy efficiency projects announced last year. A complete list of the projects is available on Reclamation’s website.
Source :U.S. Department of the Interior
