Carol DeAngelis, Area Manager of Reclamation's Western Colorado Area Office, will present Water 2025 Challenge Grant Awards to the Grand Valley Irrigation Company, serving the Grand Junction area, and the West Divide Water Conservancy District, serving the Rifle and Silt areas, at a morning ceremony in Grand Junction, Colo., on Monday, December 12, 2005.

The ceremony will be held at 10:00 a.m. MST at Reclamation's Western Colorado Area Office, located at 2764 Compass Drive, Suite 106, Grand Junction, Colo. The media is invited to attend. The grants, part of Interior Secretary Gale Norton's Water 2025 initiative, are aimed at making more efficient use of existing water supplies through water conservation, efficiency and water market projects.

Grand Valley Irrigation Company: Will construct seven manual check structures, raise some canal banks, and install measuring devices in their Keifer Extension Canal. Estimated Yearly Water Savings: 4,800 acre-feet Total Cost: $423,242. Water 2025 Challenge Grant: $200,367.

West Divide Water Conservancy District: Will install a pump station and delivery pipeline and develop a water marketing program. Estimated Yearly Water Savings: 300 acre-feet Total Cost: $403,796. Water 2025 Challenge Grant: $201,898