Interior Announces $889 Million Investment in Western Water Infrastructure
The Department of the Interior has announced $889 million in investments for critical water infrastructure projects across the West with $540 million designated for California, made possible by President Donald J. Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The funding will support Bureau of Reclamation projects in California, Idaho, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming that improve water conveyance, expand storage and modernize infrastructure that supports American communities and agriculture. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum said “These investments strengthen our nation’s water security, modernize aging infrastructure and support the farmers, communities and industries that depend on reliable water supplies. By helping ensure strong agricultural production and efficient water delivery, this investment also supports more stable and affordable food prices for American families.” California projects will receive $540 million of the total funding to support improvements to major water conveyance systems and storage projects that serve farms, communities and businesses throughout the Central Valley. Specifically:
The Delta-Mendota Canal will receive $235 million, the largest allocation from the legislation. Funding will support rehabilitation of the upper canal, including raising canal embankments, repairing check structures and advancing potential construction of a new concrete-lined canal segment.
The Friant-Kern Canal will receive $200 million for subsidence correction efforts along the canal.
The San Luis Canal will receive $50 million to address subsidence issues affecting water delivery reliability.
The Tehama-Colusa Canal Authority pumping plant will receive $15 million to increase flow rates and improve system performance.
An additional $40 million will support planning and preconstruction activities associated with raising Shasta Dam, which will increase water storage capacity by approximately 634,000 acre-feet.
These investments complement the Trump administration’s priority to expand water supply and strengthen drought resilience under Executive Order 14181. Combined with favorable hydrologic conditions, this effort has enabled the Bureau of Reclamation to deliver more than 200,000 acre-feet of additional water to the Central Valley Project by streamlining operations and capturing storm flows that historically could not be stored.