News Release Archive

Reclamation to Present Water 2025 Challenge Grants

Media Contact: Mary Perea, 505-462-3576, mperea@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: October 17, 2005

Bureau of Reclamation Deputy Commissioner William E. Rinne will present Water 2025 Challenge Grant Awards to the City of Las Cruces, Elephant Butte Irrigation District and the City of El Paso Utilities Water Service Board during a ceremony in Las Cruces, N.M., on October 19. The ceremony will be held at noon in the Quay Room at New Mexico State Universitys Corbett Center.

The grants under Interior Secretary Gale Norton's Water 2025 initiative are aimed at making more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation, efficiency and water market projects.

City of Las Cruces: Project to install pumps on the Elephant Butte Irrigation District water distribution system to allow use of Burn Lake as a regulating reservoir.
Estimated Yearly Water Saving: 3,750 acre-feet
Total Cost: $174,889. Water 2025 Challenge Grant: $86,350.

Elephant Butte Irrigation District: Project to install flow control meters for more accurate monitoring of farm deliveries.
Estimated Yearly Water Saving: 8,000 acre-feet
Total Cost: $615,000. Water 2025 Challenge Grant: $300,000

City of El Paso Utilities Water Service Board: Project to equip monitoring stations in the Rio Grande and selected agricultural drains to monitor water flow and quality.
Estimated Yearly Water Saving: 7,600 acre-feet.
Total Cost: $357,386. Water 2025 Challenge Grant: $165,000

For more information about Water 2025 go to http://www.doi.gov/water2025

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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.