Western water systems get $889M upgrade to support agriculture

The U.S. Department of the Interior has announced an $889 million investment to strengthen water infrastructure across the western United States, targeting projects that expand storage, improve conveyance and increase drought resilience. 

The legislation provides funding to the Bureau of Reclamation through 2034. Funding totals $1 billion over the next eight years. 

The funding will support initiatives such as canal lining, reservoir expansion, groundwater recharge and modernization of aging delivery systems. Many of these projects are designed to reduce water loss, improve efficiency and help communities better manage limited water supplies amid ongoing drought conditions. 

Here’s how the funding breaks down by state: 

• California will receive $540 million for multiple projects to benefit farms and communities across the Central Valley. 

• South Dakota will receive $11 million to repair leaky concrete siphons that provide water to over 24,000 acres of farmland.