The Biden administration’s water conservation agenda received a boost with a $60 million investment in the Rio Grande Basin, announced by the Department of the Interior (DOI) during a visit on May 10.
U.S. Secretary of the Interior, Deb Haaland, shared that this funding is part of the $500 million available through the Inflation Reduction Act for areas outside the Colorado River Basin that are facing drought stress.
Haaland stated, “The Biden-Harris administration is dedicated to enhancing the resilience of communities to climate change impacts, including those in the Rio Grande basin.”
She added, “We are making strategic investments through President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to protect water resources, support innovative water conservation strategies, and enhance water efficiency across the Western region.”
The DOI emphasized the administration’s focus on addressing climate change impacts on water resources.
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The funding for this initiative is part of the Inflation Reduction Act, which has allocated $500 million for water management and conservation efforts in drought-affected regions.
The DOI has already invested close to $59 million in the Rio Grande Basin, which includes funding for infrastructure repairs and water supply enhancements.
The projects supported by this investment will focus on increasing storage capacity, capturing stormwater for aquifer recharge, and improving wildlife habitat.
Efforts will also be made to enhance irrigation efficiency and provide benefits to farmers and residents in New Mexico, Texas, and Mexico.
As per the DOI press release, reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton stated, “The Rio Grande, like many Western rivers, has been grappling with severe drought impacts for years.”
She added, “This funding from President Biden’s Investing in America agenda allows Reclamation and our partners to explore options for stormwater capture and other activities to mitigate climate change impacts.”
Following concerns raised by some House lawmakers about potential influence from “extreme environmental activist groups” on the Biden administration’s DOI, the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations announced in a memo released on April 30 that they will further investigate the matter.
They are worried about possible conflicts of interest and undue influence on DOI decision-making processes.
The memo highlights the increasing influence of “extreme” environmental activist groups aligned with leftist social and environmental justice agendas in shaping American politics and policy.
Republicans will scrutinize DOI’s alleged communications with extreme activist groups under Haaland’s leadership.
The memo also points to potential international connections within the agency, expressing concerns about ties to the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and other foreign entities by some extreme activist groups.
Katabella Roberts contributed to this report.
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