Inflation Reduction Act funding will improve the sustainability of water resources and enhance Western communities’ resiliency
From left: Anne Maurer, New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission Technical Lead for Tribal Resources, Michelle Hunter, Deputy Director of the New Mexico Interstate Stream Commission, Casey Ish, coordinator of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District's Conservation Program, Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez, Jason Casuga, Chief Executive of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District and Sharon Wirth, Reclamation Albuquerque Assistant Area Manager.
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a $7 million investment through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to boost drought resiliency and efficiency in Texas and New Mexico. The funding announcement comes as the Bureau celebrates the two-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has delivered transformational investments for drought resilience across the West.
Across the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, drought conditions have reduced water supplies, causing significant impacts for agricultural uses in the region. Reclamation Deputy Commissioner Roque Sanchez visited the Cameron County Irrigation District #2 and United Irrigation District water districts this week ahead of today’s announcement. Both districts will receive funding from today’s announcement to pipe and line existing open irrigation canals, thereby reducing water loss from seepage and evaporation. Once fully constructed, these measures will result in an estimated water savings of 5,900 acre-feet per year.
“With new resources from the Inflation Reduction Act, Reclamation is pleased to support these projects that help our partners invest in infrastructure that conserves and more efficiently moves water,” Deputy Commissioner Sanchez said. “We recognize that the Rio Grande suffers from prolonged drought impacts that we see in many basins across the West, and we will continue to work closely with our partners to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and the effects of climate change.”
The Inflation Reduction Act includes $550 million for domestic water supply projects and $4 billion for water management and conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin and other areas experiencing similar levels of long-term drought. To date, Reclamation has selected 227 agreements and projects for Inflation Reduction Act funding for a total of about $2 billion.
Investments in the Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas
In Texas, Hidalgo County Irrigation District #2 has been awarded $2 million to construct infrastructure and efficiency improvements to a canal, discharge pipes, and a pumping plant. The United Irrigation District has been awarded $850,000 to install seven flow control and metering gates and four flow control gates on the Bryan Canal that provides water to the cities of Mission and McAllen, Texas, and the Sharyland Water Corporation. Cameron County Irrigation District #2 was awarded $937,238 for projects to convert unlined open canal segments to buried pipeline.
Investments in the Middle Rio Grande Basin in New Mexico
As part of today’s announcement, the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District in New Mexico will also receive $5 million for the Middle Rio Grande Environmental Water Program. The project is the first of its kind in New Mexico and includes long-term water conservation projects and annual leasing and allows for improved operational flexibility that benefits both farmers and the species that depend on the river. The program allows for irrigation water conserved through on-farm and irrigation infrastructure improvement projects to be redistributed as needed to support to instream flows in critical habitat areas for endangered species like the Rio Grande silvery minnow. It also provides a model for other leasing programs in New Mexico.
