Sen. Kelly Urges Swift Implementation of Arizona Drought Mitigation Funds Amid Historic Drought

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly joined the Central Arizona Project (CAP) in calling on the federal government to quickly release the $250 million funding he secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, as well as other investments, to fully fund priority water infrastructure projects in Arizona which will help conserve water in Lake Mead amid this historic western drought.

“…As you are aware, the Colorado River Basin is experiencing the driest condition in more than 1,200 years. To mitigate the impacts of the drought, Congress provided $250,000,000 in the Lower Colorado River Basin Drought Contingency Fund…As you make this decision, we point you to the attached February 17, 2022, letter to you from the Central Arizona Water ConservationDistrict, which outlines priority infrastructure that would improve water management in the Lower Basin. During this historic drought, these are the exact types of projects needed to provide durable long-term savings on the Colorado River. We encourage you to move forward with them as quickly as possible,” said Kelly in the letter.

In the Senate, Kelly has broken through partisan gridlock to secure historic investments that strengthen and protect Arizona’s water future. As a key negotiator of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, Kelly specifically secured more than $8 billion to upgrade western water infrastructure, including $250 million for the Bureau of Reclamation to create or conserve 100,000 acre-feet of water annually for the Lower Colorado River Basin at Lake Mead. 

Read Kelly’s letter HERE.