News Release Archive

Bostwick Irrigation District Awarded Water 2025 Challenge Grant

Media Contact: Judy O'Sullivan, (308) 389-5307, josullivan@gp.usbr.gov
Mark Andersen, mandersen@gp.usbr.gov

For Release: September 09, 2005

The Bostwick Irrigation District was recently recognized for their receipt of a Water 2025 Challenge Grant from the Bureau of Reclamation. Alice Johns, Area Manager of Reclamation's Nebraska-Kansas Area Office, addressed the District Board about the impetus for the Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program. "Crisis management is not effective in dealing with water conflicts," Johns said. "Challenge grants like this one support a realistic and cooperative local approach to stretch existing supplies to help prevent conflict over our limited water resources in the West."

Through the Challenge Grant Program, Reclamation provides funding on a 50/50 cost share basis to water districts for projects focused on water conservation, efficiency, and water marketing. A total of $9.9 million in Water 2025 Challenge Grants has been approved by Interior Secretary Gale Norton for water conservation projects across the West. The District project is one of 43 competitively selected in 13 western states. Priority was given to projects that will be completed within 24 months from the date of award and that will decrease the likelihood of conflict over water.

The combined investment, including the matching contributions of non-federal partners, for the 43 selected projects represents more than $27 million in water improvements and marketing. The District will use the grant funds to replace 10.8 miles (35,000 to 40,000 feet) of open ditch with buried pipe and will install water meters to measure the water deliveries. The project is expected to save 2,000 acre-feet of water annually with an overall estimated cost of $977,266, including a Water 2025 contribution of $300,000. Putting the 2,000 acre-feet savings in perspective, an acre-foot of water is enough to supply a family of four for a year.

For more information on the Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program visit : http://www.doi.gov/initiatives/water2025.html.

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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:

Great Plains Home Page

Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the West