Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Program is providing funding for technical assistance and drought mitigation for Tribes
Reclamation is investing $9.2 million to support Tribal efforts to develop, manage and protect water and related resources, and mitigate drought impacts and the loss of Tribal trust resources.
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a $9.2 million investment supported by President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to support Tribal efforts to develop, manage and protect water and related resources, and mitigate drought impacts and the loss of Tribal trust resources. The 25 projects selected through the Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program, with funding from the Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations will benefit 18 federally recognized Tribes across 11 western states.
“Reclamation is committed to working with Tribal nations to prepare for and respond to the impacts of climate change across all western basins,” said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “The projects we’re funding today will improve water use efficiency and increase Tribal water supplies by upgrading infrastructure and programs and modernizing existing facilities. Reclamation is providing the resources necessary to ensure these sovereign nations have the modern water infrastructure crucial to the health and economic vitality of their communities.”
Projects will assess and repair a water treatment plant and drinking water system, replace failing irrigation system equipment and lower pump elevations for river access, establish an on-site training and testing center for Tribal water system operators, and map a reservation water utility system to aid future improvement, expansion, and enhancements.
Examples of the projects selected for federal funding include:
- Hopi Tribe (Arizona) – $397,476 to establish an on-site training and testing center to provide specialized training, operator exams, and attainment of Tribal Utility Management certifications. This will alleviate the need for water system operators to travel for training.
- Chickasaw Nation (Oklahoma) - $400,000 to develop a project to protect and manage diminishing groundwater supplies, accomplish community water assessments, and devise a regional water management plan to safeguard critical community water supplies. The project is in partnership with the Southern Oklahoma Water Corporation, Arbuckle Master Conservancy District and the city of Ardmore, Oklahoma.
- Ute Mountain Ute (Colorado) – $278,434 to design the 1,000 acre-feet Red Arrow Regulating Reservoir to help stabilize irrigation water supply. The reservoir design will allow for banking water during wet years and capturing the operational spill at the end of the 39.9-mile Towaoc- Highline Canal.
- Fort Mojave Indian Tribe (California) – $400,000 to replace irrigation intake pumps and related equipment on the Tribe’s land along the Colorado River. The declining river level is impacting the Tribe’s ability to irrigate agricultural fields which members depend on for income. Declining water level due to extended drought conditions necessitates the revamping of pumping stations. Replacing the 1980s-era pumps and lowering their elevation will improve the supply of irrigation water.
- Ute Indian Tribe (Utah) – $400,000 to complete an assessment and repairs to its water system treatment plant to benefit the Tribes’ drinking water system.
View a full list of projects on Bureau of Reclamation’s website.
Section 80004 of the Inflation Reduction Act appropriates $12.5 million for Reclamation to provide near-term drought relief to Tribes that are impacted by the operation of a bureau water project.
Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Program provides funding opportunities and technical assistance through cooperative working relationships and partnerships with Tribes. To learn more about these and other funding opportunities, visit www.usbr.gov/native.
