Rep. Neguse Announces $10 Million Investment for Water Projects on Colorado’s Western Slope
Lafayette, CO — Congressman Joe Neguse, Co-Chair of the Congressional Colorado River Caucus, announced over $10 million in WaterSMART Environmental Water Resource and America the Beautiful Grants funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law have been awarded to environmental projects to increase water availability in the Colorado River Basin. These projects are part of a greater $51 million investment in 30 new Environmental Water Resource Projects in 11 states. The collaborative projects focus on water conservation, water management and restoration efforts that will result in significant benefits to ecosystem or watershed health.
Congressman Neguse, who played a key role in crafting the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, successfully secured the passage of several key priorities for Colorado in the bill, including addressing water scarcity and improving drought preparedness across the Western Slope.
“As drought continues to pose an imminent threat to states across the West, I’m proud to have helped secure over $10 million in critical investments for water restoration and conservation projects across Colorado’s Western Slope. As Co-Chair of the Colorado River Caucus, I’ll keep fighting to ensure our great state has the resources necessary to address these long-term challenges,” said Congressman Neguse.
“Adequate, resilient and safe water supplies are fundamental to the health, economy and security of every community in our nation,” said Secretary Deb Haaland. “The Interior Department is focused on ensuring that funding through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda is going to collaborative projects throughout the West that will benefit the American people.”
Specifically, the projects in Colorado include:
- $2,999,595 for the Middle Colorado River Agriculture Collaborative: 4 Fish Passage/ Irrigation Diversion Upgrade Projects on Elk Creek-a tributary to the Colorado River,
- $2,482,686 for the Riparian Restoration and Infrastructure Improvements to Better the Ecological Processes of the Mancos Watershed,
- $2,403,748 for the Purgatoire River Fish Passage,
- $1,594,799 for the Farmer's Ditch Improvement Project,
- $1,274,625 for the Farmers Union Multi-Benefit Diversion Infrastructure Improvement Project,
- $ 1,198,376 for the Uncompahgre River Multi-Benefit Project,
- $746,423 for the Roan Creek Fish Barrier and Diversion Infrastructure Upgrade,
- And $651,920 for the Nannice Canal Diversion and Fish Passage Project.
Read more about these projects and others in the Colorado River Basin HERE.
Background
Congressman Joe Neguse, whose district includes the headwaters of the Colorado River, has been working to address water-related issues, enacting significant bills that invest in drought resilience and water management. In July of last year, he was able to secure passage of his monumental legislative package, the Wildfire Response and Drought Resiliency Act, through the House of Representatives.
Additionally, as founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Colorado River Caucus, Rep. Neguse has formed a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers each representing a state along the Colorado River Basin. The lawmakers are working to build consensus on critical issues plaguing the river and support the work of the Colorado River Basin states on how best to address the worsening levels of drought in the Colorado River Basin.
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