Arizona Senators Announce $257 Million for Colorado River Conservation Projects

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Arizona Senators Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly have announced the allocation of $257.6 million in federal funding for long-term water conservation projects aimed at addressing the ongoing drought crisis and safeguarding the future of the Colorado River. The funds, made possible by the Inflation Reduction Act, will support initiatives in Tucson, Gilbert, the Salt River Project, and the Central Arizona Project to conserve over 64,500 acre-feet of water over the next decade.

The funding is part of a broader effort to bolster water security in Arizona, a state that relies heavily on the Colorado River for its water supply. Both Senators Gallego and Kelly expressed the importance of these projects in enhancing the state’s water resiliency and ensuring a reliable water future for its communities.

“This funding will go a long way in building long-term resiliency, protecting the Colorado River, and securing Arizona’s water future,” said Senator Gallego. “Efficiently delivering and using water throughout our state is crucial to ensuring that our communities, economy, and environment are able to thrive.”

Senator Kelly emphasized the urgency of forward-thinking solutions to address the state’s water needs amid persistent drought conditions. “These projects are examples of the kind of forward-thinking solutions that will ensure families across the state have reliable access to clean water,” Kelly said.

The historic funding will support three key projects across Arizona:

City of Tucson – $86.6 Million

Tucson’s project will involve the construction of an Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility. This facility will treat effluent from the Tres Rios water reclamation facility to generate 56,000 acre-feet of water conservation for Lake Mead over the next ten years.

Salt River Project and Central Arizona Project – $154 Million

A partnership between Salt River Project (SRP) and the Central Arizona Project (CAP) will use the funds to construct an interconnection facility that allows water deliveries from the Salt River Federal Reclamation project to upstream users along the Colorado River and CAP system. This will enhance regional water redundancy and flexibility, particularly during periods of prolonged drought. The agreement includes a commitment to conserve significant amounts of water for Lake Mead.

Town of Gilbert – $20.8 Million

The Town of Gilbert will receive funding for two projects. One will install nearly 28,000 Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) radios, which will help identify water leaks more quickly and result in an estimated 2,500 acre-feet of water conservation. The second project will increase the recharge capacity of Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve by improving distribution structures, aiming for an additional 6,000 acre-feet of water conservation.

Local leaders expressed their gratitude for the federal support. Tucson Mayor Regina Romero thanked the senators for their commitment, while Gilbert Mayor Scott Anderson highlighted the importance of these investments in tackling the Colorado River drought crisis.

“This historic federal funding, combined with local contributions, supports our commitment to ensuring that a shortage on the river does not mean a shortage at the tap,” said Anderson.

The funding is part of the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program and reflects ongoing efforts to address the challenges facing the Colorado River system.

Arizona Senators Announce $257 Million for Colorado River Conservation Projects

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Arizona Senators Announce $257 Million for Colorado River Conservation Projects

Register for the Council’s upcoming Phoenix and Tucson tech events and Optics Valley optics + photonics events.

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