Salt Lake City, Utah
(801) 379-1074
Released On: October 11, 2007
"We are pleased to be able to distribute grants to these project sponsors that have helped lead the way in efficient water use," said Johnson. "The Water 2025 Grant Program has yielded positive results for several years thanks to the conservation, efficiency, and marketing efforts of recipients such as these."
Nearly one third of this year's Water 2025 Challenge Grants were awarded at today's ceremony to: Bell Canyon Irrigation Company, Payson City, Provo River Water Users Association, Scipio Irrigation Company, Strawberry High Line Canal Company, Strawberry Water Users Association, Uintah Indian Irrigation Project, the Uintah Water Conservancy District, Utah Lake Distributing Company, and Weber Basin Water Conservancy District, as well as the Winder Lateral Association in Idaho and the Wyoming State Engineer's Office.
"Each of these projects demonstrate local solutions that will collectively help achieve the core goal of the Water 2025 Program, preventing crisis and conflict in the West," said Johnson.
Grants were awarded in support a variety of projects including a new water bank utilizing groundwater recharge, the replacement of open canal with pressurized pipe and the installation and upgrade of existing SCADA systems. Combined, the projects will help better manage or save more than 85,000 acre-feet of water in Utah, Idaho and Wyoming.
Administered by the Bureau of Reclamation, the Water 2025 Challenge Grant Program provides matching funds to irrigation and water districts, Western states, Tribes, and other local entities to develop innovative on-the-ground solutions to water supply problems. Since the inception of Water 2025 in 2004, many collaborative solutions to making more efficient use of existing water supplies have been made possible through the Challenge Grant Program.
More information on Water 2025 is available at: www.doi.gov/water2025/.