Oregon Water Resources Foundation Scholarship Application Period Now Open

The 2025-26 academic year application period for the Oregon Water Resources Foundation's (OWRF) Scholarship Program is open, now through May 2, 2025. The scholarship program was established to support the next generation of leaders in irrigated agriculture according to Oregon Water Resources Congress Executive Vice President April Snell. Applicants must submit an essay outlining thier interest and experience in water and agriculture. Awards for the 2025-26 academic year will run from $3,000 to $10,000. Complete details can be found here.

NWRA Leaders Canvas Capitol Hill

 

Representatives of NWRA's Leadership Team recently traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal policymakers to discuss the Western water community's policy priorities for the 119th Congress.

Pictured above is Paul Arrington, Treasurer and Federal Affairs Committee Vice Chair; Greg Morrison, Executive Vice President; Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID); Christine Arbogast, Federal Affairs Committee Chair; and Craig Simpson, President. 

Russel George Awarded CWC's 2025 Aspinell Award

The Colorado Water Congress awarded Russel George, a life-long advocate of Colorado water issues, the 2025 Wayne N. Aspinall “Water Leader of the Year’ Award.

The Aspinall Award is given annually in recognition of a career of service and contribution to Colorado’s water community. It is awarded to a person who has dedicated a significant part of his or her career to the advancement of the state and its programs to protect, develop and preserve the state’s water resources. More details can be found here.

North Dakota Water Education Foundation Accepting Scholarship Applications

Arkansas Valley Conduit Receives Additional Funding

In early January the Department of the Interior announced an additional $514 million investment as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to continue the initiative to bring clean, reliable drinking water to communities across the West.   

During a visit to Colorado, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton announced that $250 million of the new funding was awarded to the Arkansas Valley Conduit Project in Colorado. The project has previously received almost $340 million, which has funded three major contracts and the installation of nearly 10 miles of pipeline. Once completed, the project will replace current groundwater sources contaminated with radionuclides and help communities comply with drinking water standards. The project consists of more than 121 miles of pipeline to deliver up to 7,500 acre-feet of water per year from Pueblo Reservoir.