Governor Polis, City of Colorado Springs, and Fountain Creek Watershed, Inc. Celebrate $700,000 in Grant Funding to Support Fountain Creek Watershed Restoration

Projects aim to improve water quality, protect infrastructure, and support wildlife in one of Colorado's most populated watersheds

COLORADO SPRINGS - Today, Governor Polis, the City of Colorado Springs, and the Fountain Creek Watershed District welcomed two grants totaling $700,000 from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to support efforts to restore and conserve the Fountain Creek Watershed. Funded by the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA), these grants will support watershed restoration efforts to improve water quality, reduce erosion and flooding, and protect vital infrastructure and wildlife.

"This support for the Colorado Springs area will help one of Colorado's most populated watersheds continue to provide clean, clear water for hardworking people in El Paso County and communities further downstream. We work closely with local partners to win important federal funding and better support Colorado communities, farms, and our water future," said Gov. Polis.

The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation awarded Fountain Creek Watershed District $300,000 to create a water strategy for the Monument Creek corridor in partnership with the City of Colorado Springs, to improve water quality, restore damaged areas, and support wildlife. The Monument Creek Water Strategy will also work to ensure the watershed continues to benefit the surrounding communities by addressing challenges like erosion, sediment buildup, and the impacts of recent wildfires. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation also awarded the City of Colorado Springs $400,000 in this round of grants to restore and protect a 1.5-mile stretch of the Fountain Creek Basin in partnership with Fountain Creek Watershed District to create a healthier stream system and improve recreational access for the community.

"We're thrilled that our region has received not one, but two WaterSmart grants to assess, restore and protect the aquatic ecosystems along Fountain and Monument creeks," said Colorado Springs Mayor Yemi Mobolade. "These projects are important to our COS Creek Plan, a collaborative effort between the Pikes Peak Waterways, Colorado Springs Utilities, and the City of Colorado Springs. And, they further our ongoing efforts to maintain and improve our natural and manmade infrastructure to keep up with the growth and enhance the vibrancy of our city."

"The Fountain Creek Watershed District is excited to work on this project in the northern part of the watershed. This collaborative effort will enhance the health of our waterways locally and for those downstream," said Alli Schuch, Executive Director of the Fountain Creek Watershed District.

The Office of the Governor provided grant writing assistance to help secure the $300,000 grant for the Monument Creek Water Strategy. Under the Polis Administration, Colorado has partnered with communities across the State since the passage of the IIJA and IRA, providing grant writing, grant navigation, and matching funds support to help unlock federal investments. These efforts have helped secure tens of millions in funding for communities across Colorado.

The Fountain Creek Watershed lies in the Pike's Peak Region of Colorado, the most populated and fastest-growing watershed in the state. Population growth and development in the Fountain Creek Watershed have increased the need to protect the water source, with portions of the City of Colorado Springs in the watershed having grown in population by 37% since 2000. The watershed currently provides around 15% of the City of Colorado Springs' drinking water supply and is an agricultural water source for farmlands in southeastern Colorado.

The Monument Creek Water Strategy will focus on specific areas west of Interstate 25 within the Jackson Creek section of the Monument Creek Watershed, which has been impacted by growing urban development and serves as a resource for the nearby United States Air Force Academy.

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