Washington — The Bureau of Reclamation is investing $6.3 million in 10 tribal water projects, including several projects to ensure clean, reliable drinking water.
“These projects speak to the needs that remain in these communities,” said Acting Commissioner Scott Cameron. “Many of the projects selected focus on the important work of ensuring communities have safe drinking water and sanitation.”
The funding comes through Reclamation’s Native American Affairs Technical Assistance Program, which is aimed at increasing opportunities for federal recognized tribes to manage, develop and protect their water and related resources. Since 2016, Reclamation has invited tribes in the 17 western states to submit project proposals as part of Reclamation’s Indian Trust responsibilities.
Projects funded range from drinking water system installation and rehabilitation, well installation, wastewater and lagoon construction to water quality testing and workforce development.
- $1 million: Swinomish Indian Tribal Community for lift station replacement to protect water resources on the reservation.
- $1 million: Spirit Lake Tribe for Crow Hill wastewater system and lagoon construction project.
- $998,870: Mesa Grande Band of Mission Indians for drinking water system installation and rehabilitation.
- $966,817: Upper Skagit Indian Tribe for Helmich Road Indian Reservation’s water system extension construction project.
- $959,561: Nambe Pueblo for Pueblo of Nambe health drinking water initiative.
- $675,000: Inter Tribal Council Inc. drinking water quality testing, accessibility assessment and recommendations (nine tribal nations represented include: Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, Modoc Nation, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, Peoria Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma, Quapaw Nation, Seneca-Cayuga Nation, Shawnee Tribe, and Wyandotte Nation.
- $321,179: San Carlos Apache Tribal Council: San Carlos Apache septic replacement and well installation protect.
- $219,842: Kaibab Band of Paiute Indians for Kaibab Paiute drinking water system well and storage tank rehabilitation project.
- $108,512: Fort Sill Apache Tribe for groundwater monitoring, water use and drought mitigation strategies for Fort Sill Apache Reservation.
- $60,951: Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel for Iipay Nation of Santa Ysabel drinking water workforce development.
