Upper Colorado News & Highlights
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News Release – January 17, 2025
WASHINGTON — Today, the Bureau of Reclamation released the next step in a responsible path to guide post-2026 operations for the Colorado River, which provides critical water resources for 40 million people across 7 states and 30 Tribes across the West. The alternatives for consideration, previewed in November, represent a robust range of actions that acknowledge a broad spectrum of realistic hydrology for the Colorado River. The alternatives identified in the report reflect elements from proposals submitted by Basin states, Tribes, cooperating agencies and non-governmental organizations. The report provides additional detail on the alternatives from modeling and analysis performed by Reclamation and reflects ongoing conversations with all Basin stakeholders. Today's release puts Reclamation on a path to publish a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in summer 2025, so that post-2026 operations can be finalized on time. Read More
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News Release – January 16, 2025
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $82 Million for Rural Water Projects WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an investment of $82 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda in five Rural Water Projects to bring drinking water to areas of Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota. The funding is from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and builds on the Biden-Harris Administration's goal to ensure that all Americans have access to clean, safe drinking water. Read More
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News Release – January 16, 2025
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced an $87 million investment from the Inflation Reduction Act for the Pojoaque Basin Regional Water System in New Mexico and several water conservation projects along the Upper Rio Grande in southern Colorado. Read More
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News Release – January 14, 2025
WASHINGTON – The Department of the Interior today announced $223 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda for water recycling and desalination projects aimed at addressing the impacts of drought. The funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and annual appropriations is being awarded to 18 projects in eight states through the Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse and Desalination Programs. The selected projects are expected to result in 305,936 acre-feet of annual recycled water. Read More
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News Release – January 13, 2025
Reclamation revises categorical exclusion to streamline environmental reviews
WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Reclamation is moving forward with final revisions to seven categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969. The revised categorical exclusions will allow Reclamation to complete environmental reviews more efficiently and effectively for water-related contracting, use authorizations, financial assistance, loans, and funding activities. Read More
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News Release – January 7, 2025
Biden-Harris Administration Announces $41 Million Investment in Water Resources and Ecosystem HealthWASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced a more than $41 million investment from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for 21 projects to bolster water resources, advance ecosystem health, and support resilience in communities facing drought and other climate change impacts. The projects will support instream and riparian restoration, canal lining and piping, fish habitat improvements and fish passage. This follows a $51 million investment for Environmental Water Resource Projects through the same program in 2023. Read More
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News Release – December 19, 2024
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today announced nearly $12.1 million through President Biden's Investing in America agenda to support collaborative planning and design projects to improve water sustainability and efficiency. Reclamation selected a total of 43 projects in 11 states to receive the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Inflation Reduction Act and annual appropriations through Reclamation's WaterSMART program. Read More
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News Release – December 4, 2024
WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation today hosted a signing ceremony celebration with the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Quechan Indian Tribe, Colorado River Indian Tribes, Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe, and White Mountain Apache Tribe to celebrate new initiatives with a total investment of over $43.7 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda and annual appropriations. These new agreements aimed at providing a more sustainable and reliable water use in the Basin and build on progress already underway on water conservation agreements totaling $888 million. Read More
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News Release – December 4, 2024
WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Reclamation today announced a new funding opportunity through President Biden's Investing in America agenda for projects that are environmentally focused and have additional water savings benefits. The funding will restore habitats and assist in species recovery, while providing water savings to help increase resiliency against prolonged drought driven by climate change. This investment is made available through the Inflation Reduction Act—the largest ever climate investment — for use in the Upper Basin States of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Read More
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News Release – December 3, 2024
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today announced a $849 million investment from President Biden's Investing in America agenda to revitalize aging water delivery systems across the West. The funding supports 77 projects in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah and Washington to improve water conveyance and storage, increase safety, improve hydropower generation, and provide water treatment. This includes 14 projects totaling $118.3 million in the Colorado River Basin. Read More
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News Release – December 2, 2024
WASHINGTON – Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton was at the Great Salt Lake to announce an investment of $50 million from the Inflation Reduction Act for a water delivery program aimed at helping to ensure an ongoing, resilient water supply in the Basin. The state of Utah is leveraging over $50 million to complement Reclamation's investment, making this a $100 million investment in the Great Salt Lake. Read More
Biden-Harris Administration Leaves Colorado River Basin On Path to Success
President's Investing in America Agenda Delivers more than $223 Million to Bolster Resilience to Drought and Boost Water Supplies
Biden-Harris Administration announces over $12 million from President Biden's Investing in America agenda for water sustainability projects 
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Nearly $850 Million to Revitalize Aging Water Infrastructure, Advance Drought Resilience
Biden-Harris Administration announces $50 million for drought mitigation in the Great Salt Lake BasinExplore
