Reclamation has $1.66 billion and this is how they plan to spend it

The Bureau of Reclamation submitted its initial spend plan for fiscal year 2022 funding allocations authorized in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to the U.S. Congress last week. Reclamation will be provided $1.66 billion annually to support a range of infrastructure improvements for fiscal years 2022 through 2026.

“The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is the largest investment in the resilience of physical and natural systems in American history,” said Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo. “Reclamation’s funding allocation for 2022 is focused on developing lasting solutions to help communities tackle the climate crisis while advancing environmental justice.”

The FY 2022 spend plan allocations include:

• $420 million for rural water projects that benefit various Tribal and non-Tribal underserved communities by increasing access to potable water.
• $245 million for WaterSMART Title XVI that supports the planning, design, and construction of water recycling and reuse projects.
• $210 million for construction of water storage, groundwater storage and conveyance project infrastructure.
• $160 million for WaterSMART Grants to support Reclamation efforts to work cooperatively with states, Tribes, and local entities to implement infrastructure investments to increase water supply.
• $100 million for aging infrastructure for major repairs and rehabilitation of facilities.
• $100 million for safety of dams to implement safety modifications of critical infrastructure.
• $50 million for the implementation of Colorado River Basin drought contingency plans to support the goal of reducing the risk of Lake Mead and Lake Powell reaching critically low water levels.
• $18 million for WaterSMART’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program for watershed planning and restoration projects for watershed groups.
• $15 million for Research and Development’s Desalination and Water Purification Program for construction efforts to address ocean or brackish water desalination.
• $8.5 million for Colorado River Basin Endangered Species Recovery and Conservation Programs.

Detailed information on the programs and funding provided in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the FY 2022 BIL Spend Plan and materials from recent stakeholder listening sessions are available at www.usbr.gov/bil.