Arkansas
Arkansas Valley Conduit receives another $90 million in federal funding — Southeastern #Colorado Water Conservancy District #ArkansasRiver
Here’s the release from the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District (Chris Woodka):
May 30, 2024
The Arkansas Valley Conduit received another $90 million in federal funding as construction continues on the drinking water line that will serve 39 water systems east of Pueblo.
“This is great news for the AVC and the people of Southeastern Colorado. Funding at this level is needed to keep the AVC moving forward, and we really appreciate the hard work that our congressional delegation and Reclamation officials at all levels have put into the AVC project,” said Bill
Long, President of the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. “The Southeastern District is looking forward to the day when we can fulfill the promise to bring clean drinking water to the people of the Lower Arkansas Valley.”
The Department of Interior announced the funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, along with other Western water projects. The AVC received the largest amount of BIL funding for any of the projects included in this year’s funding.
The AVC is being built by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. The 130-mile pipeline will serve 50,000 people when completed. To date, federal appropriations total more than $321 million, with state loans and grants of up to $120 million pledged. Local governments have contributed about $10 million, including American Rescue Plan Act funds.
Construction began on the AVC in 2023, with Reclamation constructing the Trunk Line from its connection with the Pueblo Water system at 36th Lane and U.S. Highway 50. So far, three federal contracts totaling almost $100 million have been issued for the AVC to date. In addition, $22 million has been paid to Pueblo Water for conveyance, treatment and transmission of AVC water from Pueblo Reservoir.
The District, through its Water Activity Enterprise, has built delivery lines to Avondale and Boone,using $1.2 million contributed by the Pueblo County Commissioners through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.
