Colorado’s entire congressional delegation — both Democrats and Republicans — is calling on President Donald Trump to release $140 million in frozen federal funds meant for vital water projects in the Colorado River Basin.
The bipartisan plea follows an executive order signed by Trump that paused funding awarded in the final days of the Biden administration. The funds, part of the Inflation Reduction Act, were designated for 17 conservation and water efficiency projects in Colorado aimed at addressing the long-standing drought in the region.
In a letter to the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Reclamation, the lawmakers wrote, “We ask you to move forward with obligating the remaining $140 million worth of Bucket 2 projects in Colorado — not just for the benefit of our state, but for the resilience of the entire Colorado River Basin.”
The letter was signed by Democratic Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, along with Representatives Jason Crow, Diana DeGette, Joe Neguse, and Brittany Pettersen. Republican Representatives Lauren Boebert, Jeff Crank, Gabe Evans, and Jeff Hurd also added their names.
So far, the Trump administration has agreed to fund only two of the 17 projects, totaling $12 million. One of these aims to convert open canals into pressurized pipelines to aid in water delivery and support endangered fish. The other involves upgrading water metering and remote monitoring technology.
Still, Colorado lawmakers are pressing for the full restoration of the $140 million, emphasizing the urgency of supporting the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin.
“By making the Colorado River Basin’s headwaters more resilient, these Bucket 2 projects will also help manage the impacts of the unrelenting 25-year drought affecting the Colorado River Basin,” the lawmakers stated.
The original funding was part of the $388.3 million awarded to Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming under the Upper Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program.
Trump’s executive order, which cast doubt on energy and climate-related spending under the Inflation Reduction Act, has delayed progress on critical water and drought mitigation efforts in the West.
This article has been carefully fact-checked by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and eliminate any misleading information. We are committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in our content.
Katie is a senior who has been on staff for three years. Her favorite type of stories to write is reviews and features. Katie’s favorite ice cream flavor is strawberry.
Leave a Reply