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U.S.
Senator Ken Salazar
Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs
Committees
2300 15th
Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO
80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C.
20510
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For Immediate
Release
Thursday, Novemeber 8, 2007
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CONTACT:Stephanie Valencia – 202-228-3630
Cody Wertz 303-350-0032
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UPDATE: Congress Successfully Overrides President’s Veto of Water Bill; Includes
Over $120 Million for Critical Water Projects in Colorado
WASHINGTON,
DC – Funding for water projects throughout Colorado will be
restored despite President Bush’s veto as the United States Senate today
successfully voted to override the President’s veto on the Water Resources
Development Act (WRDA) by 79-14. The House of Representatives earlier
this week also successfully voted to override the President’s veto by
362-54. WRDA contains over $120 million for critical water-related projects
in Colorado included at the request of Senator Salazar. The report authorizes
federal spending on water development, infrastructure, flood control
and other projects conducted by the Army Corps of Engineers and the
Bureau of Reclamation.
“Today we were able
to override the President’s veto and will now be able to move forward
on providing funding for urgent water projects that will have critical
and long lasting impact in Colorado,” said Senator Salazar. “Today the
Congress stood up to the President and we stood up for the farmers,
ranchers, and communities of Colorado that rely on the precious amount
of water the projects in the bill help provide.”
At Senator Salazar’s request,
WRDA includes funding authorization for the following projects throughout
Colorado:
- $79 Million for
Arkansas Valley Conduit: WRDA includes a $79 million authorization
for the construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit in Southeastern
Colorado. The construction of this conduit will fulfill a long-standing
promise to the people of the lower Arkansas Valley for fresh drinking
water and is one of the keystones for the economic revitalization
of Southeastern Colorado;
- $10 Million for
the Boulder County Pipeline: WRDA includes a $10 million
authorization for construction of a water pipeline, which will protect
drinking water quality and allow for year-round water delivery from
Carter Lake to Boulder and other municipal area water providers;
- Fountain Creek
Watershed Study: WRDA includes specific instructions to the
Secretary of the Army to speed up completion of the Fountain Creek
Watershed Study, the first step towards the clean-up and protection
of Fountain Creek for all the communities. The importance of this
study was underscored earlier this year when the Creek flooded parts
of Pueblo along Dillon Drive, damaging several homes and businesses.
- $5 Million Authorization
for a Statewide Selenium Study: WRDA includes a $5 million
authorization for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct regional
and watershed-wide studies to address selenium concentrations in Colorado,
which in high doses can be fatal to humans, livestock and wildlife.
- South Platte
River, Colorado-
WRDA includes a $13.06 million authorization for use in partnership
with state and local entities to complete flood mitigation, habitat
restoration, and improved recreation along the South Platte River
in Denver, to be matched by more than $7 million in non-Federal funds.
- $25 million for
the Rio Grande Environmental Management Program in Colorado,
New Mexico, and Texas, which provides for the ongoing restoration
and management of the Rio Grande, which is headwatered in Colorado,
and its tributaries such as the Alamosa and Conejos Rivers.
- $1 million for
water and wastewater infrastructure for the Ute Mountain
Project in Montezuma and La Plata Counties.
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