Las Vegas, NV – Today Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Interior’s announcement of up to $269 million in funding and conservation agreements to help the Gila River Indian Community and water users across the Lower Colorado River Basin:

“The Interior Department’s announcement of up to $269 million in water conservation funding is welcome news. Thanks to funding I supported in the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law designated for the Lower Colorado River Basin, nearly two feet of water will be put back into Lake Mead. Furthermore, this new funding has the potential to conserve more than half of Nevada’s annual water allotment from the basin.

“I’ve pushed for investments in Western water conservation projects because we need to do more to protect the integrity of our water infrastructure and the Colorado River System at large. This all-government approach that engages Tribal communities is essential to ensuring the basin’s longevity and addressing Lake Mead’s critically low levels.” 


Background:

Congresswoman Titus voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which created the Bureau of Reclamation’s Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program. This recently announced funding includes a $12 million agreement with the Coachella Valley Water District to conserve 30,000 acre-feet of water in Lake Mead this year, along with a $50 million agreement with the Gila River Indian Community to conserve another 125,000 acre-feet of water this year.