Kelly, Gallego Applaud Over $257 Million in Funding for Colorado River Conservation Projects
The funding will support the conservation of over 64,500 acre-feet of water over 10 years
Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego celebrated $257,600,000 in funding for long-term water conservation projects coming to the City of Tucson, Town of Gilbert, and the Salt River Project in partnership with the Central Arizona Project, thanks to Kelly’s Inflation Reduction Act. This funding will support the construction of advanced water purification systems, install efficient water management technology, and enhance infrastructure to conserve critical water resources on the Colorado River and in Lake Mead, addressing Arizona’s ongoing drought challenges.
“Securing Arizona’s water future requires forward-thinking solutions, and these projects are examples of that,” said Kelly. “They will strengthen our efforts to ensure families across the state have reliable access to clean water in the face of this drought.”
“This funding will go a long way in building long-term resiliency, protecting the Colorado River, and securing Arizona’s water future,” said Gallego. “Efficiently delivering and using water through our state is crucial to ensuring that our communities, economy, and environment are able to thrive.”
“I am deeply grateful to Senators Kelly and Gallego and former Senator Sinema for their steadfast commitment to our state’s future through their investment in the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. By working together, we are not only addressing the immediate challenges facing our water supply but also ensuring a sustainable and secure future for Tucson and the entire region for generations to come.” Mayor Regina Romero, City of Tucson
“With the support of our federal delegation, the System Conservation Program provides Gilbert with approximately $17 million in funding for two critical water conservation and efficiency projects,” said Gilbert Mayor Scott Anderson. “Gilbert is receiving nearly $14 million to increase our recharge capacity at Gilbert’s Riparian Preserve, making full use of our renewable water supplies, plus an additional $3 million to install over 27,000 AMI meters that provide real-time data, allowing Gilbert to pinpoint and address leaks much faster. In exchange for this funding, Gilbert agrees to conserve a total of 8,500 acre-feet of Colorado River water in Lake Mead, over the next 10 years. The Town recognizes that addressing the Colorado River drought crisis requires investment and action by all stakeholders, and this historic federal funding, combined with local contributions from Gilbert residents, supports our commitment to ensuring that a shortage on the river does not mean a shortage at the tap.”
See below for breakdown of projects:
| Recipient | Amount awarded | Project Description |
| City of Tucson | $86, 600,000 | This project will construct the Advanced Water Purification Demonstration Facility which will generate direct potable reuse by treating effluent from the Tres Rios water reclamation facility. The project is estimated to generate 56,000 acre-feet of water conservation for Lake Mead over a period of ten years. |
| Salt River Project in partnership with the Central Arizona Project | $154,000,000 | This project will support the construction of an interconnection facility to allow for water deliveries from the Salt River Federal Reclamation project to upstream users along the Central Arizona Project and Colorado River to improve regional water redundancy and flexibility. This will be critical to support the resiliency of the Central Arizona Project during periods of prolonged drought. The financial agreement between the Bureau of Reclamation and Salt River Project celebrated today will be followed by negotiations for a System Conservation Implementation Agreement to ensure that an investment of such magnitude also results in significant water conservation to shore up Lake Mead elevations. Additionally, this project will undergo an Environmental Impact Statement, and execution of other agreements, including wheeling contracts prior to water deliveries through the Central Arizona Project. |
| Town of Gilbert | $3,000,000 | This project will support the installation of 27,943 Advanced Metering Infrastructure Radios to ensure more efficient use of water. The project will result in an estimated 2,500 acre-feet of water conservation in Lake Mead. An additional project with the Town of Gilbert will invest $13.8 million in the improvement of distribution structures within the Town’s Riparian Preserve to increase flows from 5 million gallons per day to 8 million gallons per day to fully utilize reclaimed water for aquifer recharge. This project will result in an estimated 6,000 acre-feet of water conservation in Lake Mead over the conservation period of ten years. |
