Representative Marilyn Musgrave announced yesterday that there is $675,000 in an appropriations bill for the Arkansas Valley Conduit, according to the Pueblo Chieftain. From the article, "The $300 million conduit is part of the original Fryingpan-Arkansas Project authorized in 1962, but was never built because cities east of Pueblo would have had to pay 100 percent of costs. A bill seeking to increase the federal share to 80 percent was introduced last year in the U.S. Senate, but has not moved. Musgrave and U.S. Rep. John Salazar, D-Colo., were able last year to secure authorization for $69 million under the Water Resource and Development Act. That bill also has stalled in the Senate...
"[Bill Long, Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District president] said most of the money from the grant would probably help fund the preliminary design phase, but some of the funds could be used to help some smaller water districts deal with clean water issues prior to construction of the conduit. Smaller water districts are facing issues, particularly with naturally occurring uranium in well water supplies...
"Another issue the committee will take up in the next few months is how the operation of the conduit will be structured. At issue is whether it will operate as an enterprise of the Southeastern District or as a separate authority, Long said."
Category: Colorado Water
6:09:04 AM 
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