News Release Archive

Reclamation Presents Water 2025 Challenge Grants to Grand Junction Area Recipients

Media Contact: Justyn Hock, 970-248-0625, jhock@uc.usbr.gov
Mike Baker, 970-248-0637, mbaker@uc.usbr.gov

For Release: December 12, 2005

Reclamation's Western Colorado Area Office Manager Carol DeAngelis presented Water 2025 Challenge Grants to the Grand Valley Irrigation Company, which serves the Grand Junction area, and the West Divide Water Conservancy District, which serves the Rifle and Silt areas, at a December 12 ceremony in Grand Junction, Colo.

The grants, administered through the auspices of Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton's Water 2025 initiative, are aimed at making more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation efforts, efficiency and water market projects. The grants were awarded out of Reclamation's funding for the program for Fiscal Year 2005.

Grand Valley will use its grant of $200,367 to construct seven manual check structures, raise some canal banks, and install measuring devices in their Keifer Extension Canal, resulting in an annual water savings of 4,800 acre-feet. An acre-foot is enough water to supply a family of four's water needs for a year. The Water 2025 Challenge Grant will be matched with local funding of $222,875, totaling $423,242 for the project.

West Divide Water Conservancy District also was presented with a Water 2025 Challenge Grant of $201,898. With matching funds of $403,796, West Divide will install a pump station and delivery pipeline and also develop a water marketing program. These projects will save an annual amount of 300 acre-feet of water annually?

The Challenge Grant Program focuses on meeting the goals identified in Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the West. Water 2025 encourages voluntary water banks and other market-based measures as authorized under state law, promotes the use of new technology for water conservation and efficiency, and removes institutional barriers to increase cooperation and collaboration among federal, state, tribal, and private organization. More information in available on the Water 2025 website.

# # #

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.