Upper Colorado News & Highlights

• News Release – May 22, 2023

  Biden-Harris Administration Announces Historic Consensus System Conservation Proposal to Protect the Colorado River Basin
  Seven Basin states agree on analyzing consensus-based approach proposed by the Lower Basin
  Funding from President Biden's Investing in America agenda combined with voluntary commitments will conserve 3-million-acre feet of water through 2026

  WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced significant new developments in the Biden-Harris administration's efforts to protect the stability and sustainability of the Colorado River System now and into the future.

  As part of the Department's continued efforts to address ongoing severe drought conditions and a changing climate in the Colorado River Basin, representatives from the seven Colorado River Basin states have agreed to the submission of a Lower Basin, consensus-based system conservation proposal. They are requesting the proposal be fully analyzed as an action alternative under the Bureau of Reclamation's draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS), published last month. Read More 

• News Release – May 18, 2023

  Carl Hayden Visitor Center to Open 7 Days a Week

  Starting May 21, the Carl Hayden Visitor Center will be open 7 days a week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (MST). The visitor center is located on Highway 89 at Glen Canyon Dam near Page, Ariz. It is operated by the Bureau of Reclamation in collaboration with the National Park Service and Glen Canyon Conservancy. Read More 

• News Release – May 3, 2023

  Secretary Haaland Announces $12.6 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Desalination Research Facility in Southern New Mexico

  ALAMOGORDO, N.M. — While in Southern New Mexico today, Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Congressman Gabe Vasquez announced a $12.6 million investment from the President's Investing in America agenda to support the Brackish Groundwater National Desalination Research Facility (BGNDRF) in Alamogordo, New Mexico. This funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is part of the Biden-Harris administration's all-of-government effort to enhance the resilience of the West to drought and climate change. Owned and operated by the Bureau of Reclamation, this is a state-of-the-art facility used by government agencies, universities, and private sector companies for desalination research studies, pilot-scale projects and small demonstration projects. Read More 

• News Release – May 2, 2023

  Reclamation continually monitoring Hyrum Dam spillway; ready to take action if needed

  SALT LAKE CITY – Because of record snowpack and projected record high runoff into Hyrum Reservoir, the Bureau of Reclamation is conducting around-the-clock monitoring of the spillway at Hyrum Dam, as operators are releasing a high volume of water through the spillway to help manage the reservoir's water level as warm temperatures have significantly increased snowmelt and runoff into the reservoir. Read More 

• News Release – April 25, 2023

  Reclamation awards $4 million for new and innovative water treatment technologies

  The Bureau of Reclamation awarded funding for 15 projects under the Desalination and Water Purification Research program. The research projects are innovative solutions that seek to reduce water treatment costs and improve performance. Read More 

• News Release – April 21, 2023

  Biden-Harris Administration Announces Over $140 Million for Water Conservation and Efficiency Projects in the West
  84 projects in 15 western states expected to conserve over 230,000 acre-feet annually once completed

  WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced a $140 million investment for water conservation and efficiency projects as part of the President's Investing in America agenda to enhance the resilience of the West to drought and climate change. Funding for 84 projects in 15 western states, provided through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations, will go to irrigation and water districts, states, Tribes and other entities and are expected to conserve over 230,000 acre-feet of water when completed. This is equivalent to 77 billion gallons of water, enough water for more than 940,000 people. Read More 

• News Release – April 20, 2023

  Reclamation releases Climate Change Adaptation Strategy

  WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation has released its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy that outlines how Reclamation will combat climate change. The strategy also affirms Reclamation will use leading science and engineering to adapt to human-caused climate change. Read More 

• News Release – April 20, 2023

  Above-average snowpack and projected runoff will send more water from Lake Powell to Lake Mead

  WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today released its April 24-Month Study, which includes an increase to downstream flows from Lake Powell to Lake Mead of up to 9.5 million acre-feet (maf) this water year (Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 30, 2023). Read More 

• News Release – April 20, 2023

  Reclamation prepares for above-average runoff on the Rio Grande, Rio Chama and Pecos River

  ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Strategic coordination and operations will be key on the Rio Grande as water managers prepare for above-average spring runoff amid the multi-decade drought. Read More 

• News Story – April 18, 2023

  Reclamation's Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant Project Wins the Best of Best Engineering News Record Award

  Representatives from the Bureau of Reclamation's Four Corners Construction Office, Navajo Nation, and design-build contractor, Jacobs, were presented with the Best of the Best award at the 2023 Engineering News Record Awards of Excellence ceremony in New York City April 13. The national ENR award was for the Best Project in the Water/Environment category for the design and construction of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project's Cutter Lateral Water Treatment Plant design-build. Read More 

• News Release – April 11, 2023

  Interior Department Announces Next Steps to Protect the Stability and Sustainability of Colorado River Basin
  Outlines alternatives and tools needed to manage drought in the Basin and strengthen water security in the West

  BOULDER CITY, Nev. — To address the continued potential for low run-off conditions and unprecedented water shortages in the Colorado River Basin, the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) today released a draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) to potentially revise the current interim operating guidelines for the near-term operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover Dams. Today's release comes on the heels of historic investments the Biden-Harris administration announced last week as part of an all-of-government effort to make the Colorado River Basin and all the communities that rely on it more resilient to climate change and the ongoing drought in the West. Read More 

• News Story – April 7, 2023

  Eight Projects in Upper Colorado Basin Region to benefit from $585 Million Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Investment for Aging Infrastructure
  Projects in Colorado and New Mexico total over $42 million

  SALT LAKE CITY- The Department of the Interior recently announced a nearly $585 million investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for infrastructure repairs on water delivery systems. Funds will support 83 projects across all five Reclamation regions, including eight projects in the Upper Colorado Basin Region. Read More 

• News Release – April 6, 2023

  Biden-Harris Administration Announces $20 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for Drought Resilience Projects in California and Utah
  Small surface and groundwater storage projects will strengthen existing water supplies

  WASHINGTON – As part of President Biden's Investing in America agenda to rebuild our nation's infrastructure and make communities more resilient to the climate crisis, the Department of the Interior today announced $20 million for four small surface and groundwater storage projects in California and Utah. These projects, funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, are essential tools to help conserve water and increase the efficiency of water use in the Colorado River Basin. Read More 

• News Release – April 5, 2023

  Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $585 Million from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Repair Aging Water Infrastructure, Advance Drought Resilience
  Funding will be provided to 83 projects in 11 states to increase drought resilience and improve water delivery systems

  YUMA, Ariz. — Today during a visit to the Imperial Dam, Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, and Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton announced a nearly $585 million investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for infrastructure repairs on water delivery systems throughout the West. Funding will go to 83 projects in 11 states to improve water conveyance and storage, increase safety, improve hydro power generation and provide water treatment. Read More 

• News Release – March 22, 2023

  Biden-Harris administration awards $67 million construction contract for continued progress on the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project's San Juan Lateral
  The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to support clean drinking water for Native communities

  Farmington, N.M. – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a nearly $67 million contract award under President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to SJ Louis Construction Inc., of Rockville, Minnesota, to provide potable water to the Navajo communities and the city of Gallup in northwest New Mexico. This work is part of the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project and will fulfill both current and future demands for water in these communities. Read More 

• News Release – March 14, 2023

  Biden-Harris Administration makes $30 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds available to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems

  WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation is making $30 million from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law available to restore and protect aquatic ecosystems. Funding will support the study, design and construction of collaboratively developed ecosystem restoration projects that provide widespread regional benefits and improve the health of fisheries, wildlife and aquatic habitat through restoration and improved fish passage. The investments are part of the $1 billion investment provided by the Infrastructure Law for the WaterSMART program. Read More 

• News Release – March 13, 2023

  Reclamation announces funding opportunity for Snow Water Supply Forecasting Program

  WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation is making up to $11.75 million available for emerging snow monitoring technologies. Each selected project is eligible to receive between $300,000 - $999,999. Read More 

• News Release – March 9, 2023

  President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Requests $1.4 Billion for the Bureau of Reclamation
  Proposed investments continue efforts to enhance water and hydropower reliability across the west

  The Biden-Harris administration today released the President's Budget for fiscal year 2024. The $1.4 billion budget for the Bureau of Reclamation makes critical, targeted investments in the American people that will promote greater prosperity and economic growth for decades to come. Read More 

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