Colorado’s Congressional delegation and federal stimulus funds delivered another $100 million for the Arkansas Valley Conduit in July, bringing U.S. aid for the clean drinking water project to $251 million so far.
There’s still a few hundred million left to fully fund the pipeline’s latest projected total cost of about $600 million. But the new nine-figure installment from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law bolsters hopes for an end to decades of waiting among lower-income communities on Colorado’s Eastern Plains seeking a drink free of radionuclides.
Periodic Congressional appropriations and grants from the infrastructure acts have been pushed by Democratic U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenloooper, and Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, who represents part of southeastern Colorado.
Heavy equipment operators excavate dirt near the ditch of the Arkansas Valley Conduit in eastern Pueblo County. The 130-mile water delivery system project recently received an additional $100 million in federal funding. (Mike Sweeney, Special to the Colorado Sun)
“Nothing about this is political,” said Chris Woodka, senior policy and issues manager with the conduit’s manager, the Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District. “Everything about it is just trying to get clean, reliable water supply for that part of the state. We’ve worked as hard as we can for the last 20 years to get this thing moving, and now it’s moving, so that’s a great feeling.”
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Federal contracts have been awarded for the conduit’s spine, a massive pipeline connecting clean Pueblo Reservoir water supplies with dozens of communities along the Arkansas River Valley to Lamar. The district has also now awarded local contracts for some of the offshoots from the spine that will bring water to treatment facilities in places like Boone and Avondale.
Construction will continue for years along the route through towns like Rocky Ford, La Junta and Las Animas. The last update after a federal appropriation said the conduit might be done in 2029.
The conduit will complete the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project approved by Congress in the early 1960s. Some 50,000 residents scattered among 39 communities had raised concerns about water safety and quality since the 1930s. Other completed features of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project include a tunnel bringing fresh snow melt from Ruedi Reservoir north of Aspen, through the mountains and reservoirs, and into the Upper Arkansas for delivery to the Front Range.
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Chuck Leinen, an inspector with the Bureau of Reclamation, explains how the welder that fuses sections of Arkansas Valley Conduit pipe operates. When completed, the conduit will run 130-miles long, from Pueblo Reservoir to Lamar. (Mike Sweeney, Special to the Colorado Sun)
Some Lower Arkansas residents’ water is tainted by nitrates, magnesium or iron. Other wells have tested for high concentrations of uranium, radium and other naturally occurring radionuclides. Woodka estimated to The Colorado Sun previously that a third to a half of residents who will be reached by the conduit have excessive radium in their water.
While the district is still looking for ways to reduce the overall cost of the conduit, it is in constant search of additional money. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation page on the project says about 35% of costs must be paid by local interests.
The conduit has a $90 million loan commitment from the Colorado Water Conservation Board, and $30 million in grants. Another $4.8 million has been committed from the district’s enterprise fund, Woodka said. Counties and cities along the route have contributed another $3 million so far from their portions of federal American Rescue Plan Act shares.
The local water districts receiving water from the conduit will be asked to help pay for a share of the project, but many residents are lower income, and the towns or water agencies can’t afford massive increases to local rates, he said. More low-interest loans from government sources may be in the works.
“Our goal is to continue to work to reduce the cost to participants as much as possible,” Woodka said. “A lot of these counties are in economically depressed areas.”
The cost of the conduit is high, but preferable, Woodka noted, to each of 39 communities having to pay to clean up their local supply to EPA standards rather than use the clean water coming down from Pueblo Reservoir.
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The previous large federal contribution to the project was $60 million in Bipartisan Infrastructure Law water storage funds in fiscal year 2022.
On a bitter afternoon in Kansas City, Missouri, the No. 19 Arkansas Razorbacks (5-2) were defeated by the Illinois Fighting Illini (6-1), 90-77, inside the T-Mobile Center.
Right out of the gates, Arkansas’ lack of physicality and focus was noticable. Not only did that result in 11 total turnovers throughout the contest, but the Razorbacks couldn’t stop the Illini from finishing white-hot from distance (15-of-31 from three), either.
Leading the Hogs was forward Adou Thiero, who racked up 26 points, six rebounds, an assist and a steal. 12 of his points came from the charity stripe, where he shot 21 attempts in total.
Below are social media reactions from fans and media throughout the Hoop Hogs’ non-conference loss:
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -— If Taylen Green and Luke Hasz needed more motivation going into his first Battle Line Rivalry game this Saturday, then being ticked off at Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz for blatantly butchering their names should do it.
Green’s name isn’t hard to pronounce given it sounds just like it looks Tay-Len, not Tal-On as Drinkwitz said. It’s obvious that Missouri’s coach knows exactly what he’s doing given his antics over the previous four seasons that get under other SEC fanbase’s and coaches skin.
The Boise State transfer has shown himself to be a playmaker when he can take care of the ball. Green has recorded 3,052 yards of total offense and 20 touchdowns this season and could make a statement with a clean performance and victory at Missouri.
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Not seen in the short clip is a few seconds later Drinkwitz saying Luke Hasz’ name as “Halls” which is totally off and a pronunciation most haven’t heard. It’s the small things like this which Missouri’s coach is allowed to get away with by most conference members.
Nearly 20 years ago, former LSU coach Les Miles had an infamous press conference as he was being courted by Michigan to be its next coach in 2007. The Tigers were No. 1 in the nation with a 10-1 record overall going up against 7-4 Arkansas.
As he was being asked about the Michigan noise, Miles assured media and fans that he was focused as LSU’s head coach and playing its rival “Ar-Kansas” that Black Friday.
Arkansas coach Houston Nutt used the soundbite above as motivation for his team that day as the Razorbacks pulled out a memorable 50-48 triple overtime victory which was thought to end LSU’s title hopes. Two-time Heisman runner up Darren McFadden had one of his finest performances in one of the Hogs’ greatest wins in program history with 206 yards rushing and four total touchdowns.
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Immediately after the game, Nutt and McFadden met with CBS sideline reporter Tracy Wolfson to celebrate their monumental upset. The Razorbacks’ coach embraced his star running back and proclaimed him as the best player in the country. The proud Little Rock native responded with a correction of Miles stating “It ain’t Ar-Kansas, it’s Arkansas, baby!”
For the sake of talking about one of the most memorable Arkansas games of all-time, it would be shameful to not at least include highlights of McFadden’s epic performance. That game ended an era as Nutt resigned and moved onto Ole Miss where he spent his next four seasons before becoming an analyst for CBS Sports.
Darren McFadden’s Heisman like performance vs #1 LSU in Death Valley 🐐 (2007) pic.twitter.com/ON2IP0ech5
The Tigers ended up winning the SEC Championship with several other teams ranked ahead losing to regain a spot in the national title game, ultimately winning it. On that fateful day, it was all about the Razorbacks who brought the wood and beat LSU without doubt similar to what Green could do in response to Drinkwitz.
“That’s how you pronounce it. It ain’t Ta-Lon or Halls, it’s Taylen and Hasz, baby.”
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Arkansas Razorbacks (5-1) vs. Illinois Fighting Illini (5-1)
Kansas City, Missouri; Thursday, 4 p.m. EST
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BETMGM SPORTSBOOK LINE: Fighting Illini -2.5; over/under is 154
BOTTOM LINE: Illinois plays No. 19 Arkansas in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Fighting Illini are 5-1 in non-conference play. Illinois leads the Big Ten in rebounding, averaging 46.3 boards. Tomislav Ivisic leads the Fighting Illini with 8.7 rebounds.
The Razorbacks are 5-1 in non-conference play. Arkansas averages 12.5 turnovers per game and is 4-0 when turning the ball over less than opponents.
Illinois scores 89.0 points, 29.8 more per game than the 59.2 Arkansas allows. Arkansas averages 8.3 made 3-pointers per game this season, 2.8 more made shots on average than the 5.5 per game Illinois gives up.
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TOP PERFORMERS: Will Riley is scoring 17.2 points per game and averaging 5.3 rebounds for the Fighting Illini.
Boogie Fland is shooting 48.1% from beyond the arc with 2.2 made 3-pointers per game for the Razorbacks, while averaging 17.2 points, 5.5 assists and 2.2 steals.
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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.
