Pete HahnloserThe Department of the Interior is making more $55 million available to enhance the resilience of water supplies in western communities against the effects of drought and climate change through the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations.
This funding, part of the Biden administration’s Investing in America agenda, will support a range of projects to enhance water management flexibility and reliability. Projects include building new infrastructure, upgrading existing systems, recharging aquifers, promoting water recycling and treatment, advancing technologies to address water scarcity, and constructing domestic water supply projects that benefit tribes and underserved communities.
The Inflation Reduction Act has allocated $550 million for water supply projects and $4 billion specifically for water management and conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin and other areas facing similar prolonged drought conditions.
Drought resiliency refers to a community’s ability to manage and respond to drought conditions. Through the WaterSMART program, the Bureau of Reclamation offers funding for projects aimed at helping communities prepare for and address drought. These initiatives are known as “mitigation actions” within a drought contingency plan.
Reclamation supports projects that enhance drought resiliency by:
- Increasing the reliability of water supplies
- Improving water management
- Providing benefits to fish, wildlife, and the environment
Separately, under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL), Reclamation is dedicating a total of $8.3 billion over five years to water infrastructure projects, including rural water systems, water storage, conservation, conveyance, nature-based solutions, dam safety, water purification and reuse, and desalination. Between the BIL’s passage in 2021 and May of this year, Reclamation has announced nearly $3 billion in funding for 440 additional projects.
This opportunity, available until Oct. 7, expands upon the Interior’s announcement in May of $147 million to assist communities in preparing for and addressing water reliability challenges arising from drought and other water scarcity issues. For more details, visit Reclamation’s WaterSMART Drought Response Program page. A list of awards for fiscal year 2024 is also available on the Bureau of Reclamation’s website.
Photo by Peg Lemkuil on Unsplash
