Bureau of Reclamation Announces $40 Million Funding Award for Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Project

On Friday, Jan. 17, the Bureau of Reclamation announced $388.3 million in funding awards including $40 million for the Shoshone Water Rights Preservation project. This investment supports efforts of the Colorado River District, the state of Colorado and a coalition of West Slope governments and water users to secure Western Colorado’s top water priority: the permanent protection of the water rights associated with the Shoshone Power Plant in Glenwood Canyon.

“Water is the lifeblood of the Grand Valley and the Western Slope, and we are encouraged to see federal funds supporting the future water security of our communities,” said Bobbie Daniel, Mesa County Commissioner. “Mesa County is proud to have invested $1 million in the Shoshone permanency effort. By safeguarding these water rights, we are sustaining our families, farms, natural habitats, and way of life for generations to come.”

Read the Colorado River District’s original news release.