News Release Archive

Secretary Salazar Announces $1 Billion Economic Recovery Investment in America's Water Infrastructure - UC Region

Media Contact: Joan Moody, (202) 208-6416, 04/15/2009 14:15
Doug Hendrix, dhendrix@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: April 15, 2009

SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation will invest $1 billion under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 to repair America's water infrastructure and help address the country's long-term water supply challenges. Of the $1 billion invested through Reclamation, $28.3 million will go to projects in the Upper Colorado Region.

"From aging dams to outdated water systems, America's water infrastructure needs immediate attention and investment," said Secretary Salazar. "The $1 billion we are investing through the President's economic recovery plan will put Americans to work rebuilding our water infrastructure and tackling the complex and painful water challenges we are facing. These investments will boost our economy, help farmers, businesses and communities get the water they need to thrive and restore aquatic resources in the West."

Secretary Salazar unveiled the Recovery Act funding today at a press conference in Sacramento alongside Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and members of Congress.

Overall, the Department of the Interior will manage $3 billion in investments as part of the recovery plan signed by the President to jumpstart our economy, create or save jobs and put a down payment on addressing long-neglected challenges so our country can thrive in the 21st Century.

More than $28.3 million has been designated for major Recovery Act work in Reclamation's Upper Colorado Region, which includes parts of Colorado, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, Wyoming and New Mexico.

Following today's announcement, ARRA funds totaling $10 million will be made available to the Colorado River Salinity Control Program for new one-time salinity control activities, or used in conjunction with existing salinity control projects. Expenditure of ARRA funds for the salinity control projects will be targeted for use during the winter construction season from October 2009 to April 2010. Solicitations to Reclamation for the ARRA funding will largely come from Colorado, Utah and Wyoming.

ARRA funds totaling $12.1 million will also be made available to the Animas-La Plata Project to complete key portions of the Navajo Nation Municipal Pipeline (NNMP) and for use on construction of other project features in the Four Corners area. The additional funding will be used by Reclamation to augment an existing highly-stressed water supply system for the Navajo Nation tribal residents living between Farmington and Shiprock, New Mexico. In addition, ARRA funds will be used for construction of an operating facility building near Durango, Colo., for use by the Animas-La Plata Project and to construct boundary fencing around portions of Lake Nighthorse - thus reducing security issues associated with this facility.

Approximately $6.2 million will fund smaller water infrastructure and related projects across the Upper Colorado Region.

With an array of projects identified by stakeholders as critical, the Bureau of Reclamation worked through a rigorous merit-based process to identify investments that met the criteria put forth in the Recovery Act: namely, that the project addresses the Department's highest priority mission needs; generates the largest number of jobs in the shortest period of time; and creates lasting value for the American public.

The $1 billion announced today will go to Bureau of Reclamation and the Central Utah Project programs including:

  • Meeting Future Water Supply Needs (including Title XVI water recycling projects and rural water projects)- $450 million
  • Improving Infrastructure Reliability and Safety - $165 million
  • Environmental and Ecosystem Restoration - $235 million
  • Water Conservation Initiative (Challenge Grants) - $40 million
  • Green Buildings - $14 million
  • Emergency drought relief in the West, primarily in California - $40 million
  • Delivering water from the Colorado River to users in central Utah under the Central Utah Project - $50 million
    • "President Obama and this Department have ambitious goals to build America's new energy future, to protect and restore our treasured landscapes, to create a 21st Century Youth Conservation Corps," added Salazar. "These Bureau of Reclamation projects will help us fulfill these goals while helping American families and their communities prosper again."

    Secretary Salazar has pledged unprecedented levels of transparency and accountability in the implementation of the Department of the Interior's economic recovery projects. The public will be able to follow the progress of each project on www.recovery.gov and on www.interior.gov/recovery. Secretary Salazar has appointed a Senior Advisor for Economic Recovery, Chris Henderson, and an Interior Economic Recovery Task Force. Henderson and the Task Force will work closely with the Department of the Interior's Inspector General to ensure that the recovery program is meeting the high standards for accountability, responsibility, and transparency that President Obama has set.

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    The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

    Relevant Link:

    Recovery.gov

    Department of the Interior Recovery