WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senators John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet applauded a Department of the Interior announcement of $8.7 million in new Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for drought mitigation efforts in the Upper Colorado River Basin.
“Drought continues to plague the Upper Colorado River Basin and the American West,” said Hickenlooper. “But thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, new funding is coming to the Upper Basin to improve the tools we rely on for water management.”
“As we face a hotter and drier future, we must do more to address water loss along the Colorado River – the lifeblood of the American West,” said Bennet. “This funding will help Colorado’s water users monitor drought conditions along the river and help inform conservation efforts. I’m grateful that the federal government is stepping up to collect better data and safeguard this vital water and energy source for Colorado.”
Via the Bureau of Reclamation, $50 million for the efforts will be allocated over the next five years, with funds pulled from the $8.3 billion the senators worked to secure for Western water infrastructure in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
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