Feds reach $343M deal for tribal water resources, Colorado River conservation

KARAH RUCKER: A HISTORIC DROUGHT IN THE WEST IS DRYING UP WATER RESOURCES IN THE SEVEN WESTERN U.S. STATES DEPENDENT ON THE COLORADO RIVER BASIN – AND NOW THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS SPENDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO TRY AND CONSERVE WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER AS ITS RESERVOIRS CONTINUE TO BE DEPLETED.

A NATIVE AMERICAN TRIBE IN ARIZONA REACHED A DEAL WITH THE U.S. GOVERNMENT NOT TO USE SOME OF ITS COLORADO RIVER WATER RIGHTS IN EXCHANGE FOR 150 MILLION DOLLARS TO BUILD A PIPELINE.

THAT PIPELINE WILL SERVE AS A RESOURCE TO REUSE WATER ON THEIR LAND.

THE WHITE HOUSE IS INVESTING AN OVERALL 343 MILLION DOLLARS INTO PROJECTS MEANT TO ENHANCE TRIBAL WATER RESOURCES AND TO REDUCE WATER DEMAND.

THE COLORADO RIVER HAS BEEN SHRINKING FOR 23 YEARS. IMPACTING MAJOR RESERVOIRS LIKE LAKE MEAD.

THE FUNDS WILL COME FROM THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT. THE WHITE HOUSE HAS PROMISED TO USE SOME-4-BILLION DOLLARS FOR DROUGHT RELIEF.

TODAY’S PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE GILA RIVER INDIAN COMMUNITY AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMES AS THE FEDERAL AGENCY THAT CONTROLS THE COLORADO RIVER WILL ANNOUNCE ITS OWN CONSERVATION PLANS FOR THE SEVEN COLORADO RIVER BASIN STATES TO FOLLOW IN ORDER TO USE LESS WATER AHEAD OF THE WARM AND DRY SEASON OF SUMMER.