Pipe replacement delivered for St. Mary Siphon

Reclamation received the first sections of the 90-inch replacement pipe for the St. Mary Siphon, marking a major milestone of the extensive project to restore the damaged siphon. This milestone sets the stage for replacing the critical infrastructure that delivers water to the Milk River Project, a lifeline for north-central Montana ranchers, farmers, and communities.

The St. Mary Siphon is an essential component of the Milk River Project, one of Montana's most significant irrigation systems, which serves over 120,000 acres of farmland. 

See the full story here.

Reclamation Commissioner Visits Ute Mountain Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise

U.S. Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton recently visited the Ute Mountain Ute Farm and Ranch Enterprise in Towaoc, Colorado.  She is joined (left to right) by General Manager Simon Martinez, Tribal Chairman Manuel Heart, Senator Michael Bennet and Marketing Manager Eric Whyte. 

Oregon Water Resources Congress' Foundation Announces 2024-2025 Scholarship Awardees

The Oregon Water Resources Foundation (OWRF) has announced it awarded $27,000 in scholarships to five outstanding students who will be pursuing careers related to water, agriculture, and other natural resources fields in the 2024-2025 academic year. Read more about the program and the recipients here.

Kemper Named 2024 Wayne N. Aspinall Water Leader of the Year

The Colorado Water Congress has awarded the organization's retiring Executive Director, Douglas Kemper, a life-long advocate of Colorado water issues, the 2024 Wayne N. Aspinall “Water Leader of the Year’ Award. The award is given annually in recognition of a career of service and contribution to Colorado’s water community who has dedicated a significant part of their career to such matters. See complete details here.

Arkansas Valley Conduit Update

With a little more than a year of construction under their belts, the construction crews working on the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) project in southeastern Colorado ran into some of their toughest challenges thus far as they dealt with the complexities of the project's structural architecture in conjunction with heavy rains, and thereafter high outdoor temperatures.

Despite these issues, the project continues to move along in line with its overall schedule which has the first set of completion milestones set for April and August of 2025.

UWUA Awards Two Scholarships

The Utah Water Users Association has awarded two higher education scholarships for the 2024-2025 academic year. Gus Cortez, attending the University of Utah, and Spencer Young, attending Utah State University were the two awardees. The scholarship program's applicants must be planning a career in the Utah water industry which could be as varied as civil, environmental, or irrigation engineering, agricultural sciences, natural resources development, watershed science, water chemistry, water geology, water law, or environmental assessment. The applicants were required to submit a maximum two-page essay that focused on their respective field of study, career goals, and what led to their interest in the water resources realm.

Interior Announces Water Conservation and Efficiency Investments

The Department of the Interior has announced a nearly $105 million investment as part of the Biden-Harris Administration' Investing in America agenda for 67 water conservation and efficiency projects that will enhance drought resilience across the nation. The investment is being funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and represents the largest investment in climate resilience in the nation’s history and provides much-needed resources to enhance Western communities’ resilience to drought and the effects of climate change according to Interior. A number of NWRA members and/or communities and others within their operating areas have received a portion of this funding. Additional details about this funding are available here.

USDA Announces Water Conservation Investments Throughout The West

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will invest $400 million with at least 18 irrigation districts to help farmers continue commodity production while also conserving water across the West. This funding – which will support irrigation districts and producers in using innovative water savings technologies and farming practices while producing water-saving commodities in the face of continued drought – is expected to conserve up to 50,000 acre-feet in water use across 250,000 acres of irrigated land in production, while expanding and creating new, sustainable market opportunities.

NWRA members associated with the investment include: Black Canyon Irrigation District, ID, Brooklyn Canal Company, UT, Central Oregon Irrigation District, OR, Central Arizona Irrigation and Drainage District, AZ, East Columbia Basin Irrigation District, WA, Elephant Butte Irrigation District, NM, Huntley Project Irrigation District, MT, Maricopa – Stanfield Irrigation and Drainage District, AZ, Palisade Irrigation District, CO, Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District, WA, and Truckee-Carson Irrigation District, Nev.

The preliminary selected districts may receive up to $15 million each in the awards and will enter into sub-agreements with the producers participating within the district. Depending on available funding, awards to additional districts may be possible. Complete details are available here.

2024 North Dakota Waterways Photo Contest Winners Announced

Winter, summer, spring or fall...North Dakota Water requested to see them all! And people from all over the responded with photo submissions for the organization's 2024 North Dakota Waterways Photo Contest. The contest rules are simple - take photos of hidden away people and places that help showcase North Dakota's water treasures which could include backyards, neighborhood playgrounds, fields, fishing holes or storms - and from any season. See the 2024 winning submissions here.