TUCSON, Ariz. – The Audubon Society, in partnership with the Lower Gila River Collaborative (LGRC), was recently awarded a $298,014 grant through the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation’s (Reclamation) WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program to improve ecosystem health and water management. The Audubon Society’s funding comes from an $8.9 million investment from the Department of Interior sourced through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and builds on the progress of the Rio Reimagined initiative, a regional approach to further the ecological restoration and economic growth on the Salt and Gila Rivers.
“The waters of the Salt and Gila Rivers are lifegiving,” said Rep. Grijalva. “Not only do my constituents in the West Valley depend on the flourishing of these sources of water, but so do the wildlife and surrounding ecosystems. I’m proud to champion federal funds for projects like these as continued degradation of these waters will threaten critical infrastructure and increases wildfire and flooding risks. I will continue to fight for resources to mitigate the impacts of climate change and to restore and revive vital rivers.”
As Representative for the West Valley, Rep. Grijalva supported the Rio Reimagined initiative as well as the WaterSMART program to help protect watershed health and build more resilient water supplies in the Western United States. In his former capacity as Chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, Rep. Grijalva helped secure $160 million in funding nationally for the WaterSMART program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and advocated for the Rio Reimagined initiative since its inception in 2018.
Rep. Grijalva’s most recently supported restoration of the West Valley’s watersheds by sending a joint request to the Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development for $20 million for the Bureau of Reclamation’s Cooperative Watershed Management Program (CWMP) in Fiscal Year 2025. Additionally, he requested $630,000 in community project funding for the Base and Meridian Wildlife Area Restoration project for repairs in the lush and scenic Tres Rios Wetlands area, which is part of the Rio Reimagined initiative.
Read more about the Audubon’s Society’s project here.