Washington, D.C. — Today, Colorado U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper welcomed the announcement from the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) of $100 million in new funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law would be made available to expedite construction of the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC). The AVC is a planned 130-mile water-delivery system from the Pueblo Reservoir to nearly 40 rural communities and 50,000 Coloradans throughout the Arkansas River Valley in Southeast Colorado. 

“Since my earliest days in the Senate, I’ve fought to ensure the federal government keeps its word and finishes this vital infrastructure project for southeast Colorado,” said Bennet. “Today’s announcement marks the single largest investment in the Conduit’s history. I’m grateful to have helped deliver this new funding to provide safe, clean water to nearly 40 communities and 50,000 Coloradans along the Arkansas River.”

“Southern Coloradans have been waiting decades for clean drinking water. Now, thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, it’s in our reach!” said Hickenlooper. 

Background:

Bennet and Hickenlooper have consistently advocated for increased funding for the AVC. In January, Bennet and Hickenlooper urged the BOR to allocate additional resources through annual appropriations and Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding. The senators also requested funding for the project in this year’s Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations bill. 

The Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus spending bill, which was signed into law in December, included $10.1 million for the Conduit after Bennet and Hickenlooper urged the Senate Appropriations Committee to continue to fund the project last May. In October, the senators visited Pueblo to celebrate the announcement of $60 million in BIL funds for the Conduit. The senators and U.S. Representative Ken Buck (R-Colo.) urged the OMB and BOR in July 2022 to allocate these funds. Bennet helped secure an additional $12.1 million for the Conduit in Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22). Prior to FY22, Bennet helped secure $68.1 million for the AVC. 

In 2009, Congress passed the first piece of legislation that Bennet introduced after joining the Senate to authorize a federal cost share for the construction of the AVC. In 2013, Bennet and his Colorado delegation sent a letter to the BOR to quickly approve the Conduit’s Environmental Impact Study (EIS) in order to expedite the project’s pre-construction process. In 2014, following their efforts to urge the BOR to quickly approve the Conduit’s EIS, the Record of Decision was signed in February. Bennet joined the groundbreaking for the project in April.

Bennet and Hickenlooper will continue working in Washington to ensure Colorado has the resources needed to complete this vital project for the region.