Kelly, Sinema Announce More Than $2.5 Million Investments from Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to Reduce Flooding, Protect River Wildlife on Tribal Lands

The bipartisan infrastructure law that Sinema led and Kelly helped shape will invest in two projects supporting river wildlife, and reduce flooding on tribal lands

Arizona Senators Mark Kelly and Kyrsten Sinema announced investments for two projects to restore and protect river wildlife and reduce flooding on tribal lands. These investments were possible through the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law that Sinema led and Kelly helped shape.

“Our work to secure these investments for flood mitigation and river wildlife protection on tribal lands will promote economic growth and sustainability in Arizona’s tribal communities,” said Senator Kelly.

“Today’s investments from our bipartisan infrastructure law will help protect tribal communities from flooding, keeping Arizonans safe and ensuring continued economic growth while restoring and strengthening river wildlife for years to come,” said Sinema.

The first project will provide $2,310,000 and $1,260,000 in partner matching for re-opening access to 52.4 miles of habitat to recover the Apache Trout – Arizona’s state fish. This project will remove seven barriers and replace six culverts, most of which are on White Mountain Apache Tribal land. These soon-to-be removed barriers were constructed decades ago to protect against nonnative predatory trout, but are no longer needed. This project will help create larger metapopulations of Apache Trout in addition to reopening access to 52.4 miles of habitat.

The second project will provide $240,000 and $20,000 in partner match funding for the Bylas Springs Complex infrastructure project in San Carlos Apache Tribal land to refurbish degraded and broken infrastructure supporting fish habitat and connectivity at several adjacent springs. The Bylas Springs Complex provides valuable habitat for Gila Topminnnow – endangered fish native to the greater Gila River watershed in Arizona.