Ducks taking flight from the Colorado River downstream of Glen Canyon Dam. Reclamation photo by Pablo Mena.
WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Reclamation today announced initial selections under the Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Program for a $388.3 million investment from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to improve wildlife and aquatic habitats, ecological stability and resilience against drought. The funding supports 42 projects in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, Wyoming, as well as Tribal initiatives that will provide environmental benefits or the restoration of ecosystem and natural habitats. To view a full list of projects, visit Reclamation’s website. Individualized criteria for some projects are included in the descriptions at the link.
Additionally, Reclamation announced approximately $100 Million funding opportunity for the companion program in the Lower Basin, which seeks to fund projects that provide environmental benefits in Arizona, Nevada, and California.
“These historic environmental investments will restore and improve natural resources supporting the long-term sustainability of the Colorado River Basin, which includes nine National Parks across the seven states and is an essential habitat for more than a dozen endangered species,” Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said. “As we continue to develop the drought resiliency of the basin through investments in water conservation and efficiency projects, we can’t forget that a sustainable basin can only exist if there is a healthy environment.”
This is the first round of projects funded from the Upper Basin Environmental Drought Mitigation Program through the Inflation Reduction Act. More announcements are expected in the coming months, including projects from the most recent Upper Basin environmental announcement, which closed Jan. 10, 2025. Reclamation will begin negotiations with successful applicants to ensure funding conditions are met before funding is obligated. Funding for the Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Project will not be obligated until the Colorado water court enters a final decree; in addition, the agreement will contain provisions requiring Reclamation’s written consent for any water right changes. The conditions precedent set by the State of Colorado for their funding of the Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Project must also be met prior to the obligation of federal funds. Funding for the Pine River Environment Drought Mitigation Project is subject to negotiation concerning operation, maintenance and replacement costs and other appropriate considerations.
Reclamation’s new funding opportunity for proposed ecosystem restoration or improvements projects in the Lower Colorado River Basin is also funded by the Inflation Reduction Act, and will consider projects that provide environmental benefits, or ecosystem and habitat restoration projects that address issues directly caused by drought in the Lower Colorado Basin Region under Phase 3 of the Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. Reclamation expects to announce projects by spring 2025 and award approximately $100 million for planning, design, construction, and/or implementation of projects. Project and applicant eligibility information is available on the Bureau of Reclamation website.
The Biden-Harris administration has led a comprehensive effort to make Western communities more resilient to climate change and address the ongoing megadrought across the region by harnessing the full resources of President Biden’s historic Investing in America agenda. As climate change has accelerated over the past two decades, the Colorado River Basin experienced the driest period in over one thousand years. Together, the Inflation Reduction Act and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provide the largest investment in climate resilience in our nation’s history, including $15.4 billion for Western water across federal agencies to enhance the West’s resilience to drought and deliver unprecedented resources to protect the Colorado River System for all whose lives and livelihoods depend on it. This includes $5.35 billion for over 577 projects in the Colorado River Basin states.
