Assistant Leader Neguse Celebrates $152 Million in Federal Funding to Address Colorado River Crisis

Lafayette, CO — Today, House Assistant Minority Leader Joe Neguse joined state and local leaders across Colorado to celebrate the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (USBR) announcement of up to $152 million in federal funding for 17 projects in Colorado aimed at addressing the Colorado River crisis. This funding includes $40 million to enable the Colorado River Water Conservation District to permanently protect the Shoshone water rights. Neguse, the founder and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Colorado River Caucus—a group dedicated to addressing critical issues along the river and supporting the efforts of the Colorado River Basin states—issued the following statement:

“As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Colorado River Caucus, I have long advocated for federal investments to mitigate the impacts of record-breaking drought and ensure the reliability and sustainability of this critical water source. I am thrilled to see the historic Inflation Reduction Act, along with the efforts of the Biden-Harris Administration, deliver for our Upper Colorado River Basin states. Allocating $152 million to combat historic drought conditions, including $40 million to protect Shoshone water rights, marks a monumental step forward in advancing the protection, conservation, use, and development of the Colorado River Basin's vital resources.”

This announcement follows efforts by Congressman Neguse and other Colorado lawmakers to support several key projects, including by writing to the USBR in support of the Colorado River Water Conservation District’s application for federal funding to purchase two of the oldest water rights on the Colorado River mainstem in Colorado, known as the Shoshone Permanency Project. Their advocacy aligns with an ongoing USBR funding opportunity aimed at addressing drought through environmental benefits, which remains open for additional projects in Colorado and the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Further details about the funded projects can be found here.