Biden Harris Administration Announces Over $282 Million for Long Term Colorado River Conservation Projects in Arizona

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a $257.6 million investment through President Biden's Investing in America agenda for long-term conservation projects in collaboration with the City of Tucson, the Town of Gilbert, Salt River Project and Central Arizona Project.

"These investments are a prime example of how strong partnerships coupled with the implementation of innovative solutions can ensure a sustainable future for the Colorado River," Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said during visits to Tucson and the Salt River Project. "These long-term investments support the resiliency of communities across the State of Arizona for the benefit of generations to come."

The project with the City of Tucson implements an investment of $86.6 million to construct the Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility which will generate direct potable reuse by treating effluent from the Tres Rios water reclamation facility. The project is estimated to generate 56,000 acre-feet of water conservation for Lake Mead over a period of ten years.

One project with the Town of Gilbert will invest $3 million for the installation of 27,943 Advanced Metering Infrastructure Radios to ensure more efficient use of water. The project will result in an estimated 2,500 acre-feet of water conservation in Lake Mead. An additional project with the Town of Gilbert will invest $13.8 million in the improvement of distribution structures within the Town's Riparian Preserve to increase flows from 5 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day to fully utilize reclaimed water for aquifer recharge. This project will result in an estimated 6,000 acre-feet of water conservation in Lake Mead over the conservation period of ten years.

The project with the Salt River Project in partnership with the Central Arizona Project will invest $154 million for the construction of an interconnection facility to allow for water deliveries from the Salt River Federal Reclamation project to upstream users along the Central Arizona Project and Colorado River to improve regional water redundancy and flexibility. This will be critical to support the resiliency of the Central Arizona Project during periods of prolonged drought like the one we currently face. The financial agreement between Bureau of Reclamation and Salt River Project celebrated today will be followed by negotiations for a System Conservation Implementation Agreement to ensure that an investment of such magnitude also result in significant water conservation to shore up Lake Mead elevations. Additionally, this project will undergo an Environmental Impact Statement, and execution of other agreements, including wheeling contracts prior to water deliveries through the Central Arizona Project.

The Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program is a part of the commitment made by the Department of the Interior to address the drought crisis with prompt and responsive actions and investments to ensure the entire Colorado River Basin can function and support all who rely on it.

Reclamation is using the best available science and actively collaborating with water users across the Colorado River Basin to determine best ways to meet the Basin's increasing conservation needs.

The historic funding committed by the Biden-Harris Administration through the Inflation Reduction Act provides resources for water management and conservation efforts in the Colorado River Basin and other basins experiencing comparable levels of long-term drought.

Reclamation also announced $25 million in funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to protect and maintain the Yuma East Wetlands and Topock Marsh, building upon a previous announcement.

The 4,000-acre Topock Marsh, in the Havasu National Wildlife Refuge, will receive $20 million to continue work on increasing efficiency of the marsh's water-delivery system. Topock Marsh provides habitat to the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher and the only northern Mexican gartersnake population identified on the lower Colorado River.

The Yuma East Wetlands will receive $5 million to rebuild infrastructure to ensure the viability of the marshes for future generations. Improvements include the replacement of water control structures, replacing diesel driven pumps with electrical pumps, extending concrete canals and bringing electrical power to the conservation area to allow automation. The area is widely utilized for public recreation and provides habitat for wildlife including endangered species.