After a push from lawmakers led by U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Representative Kristi Noem (R-SD), the Administration announced new funding for the Lewis and Clark Water System. The project is set to receive an extra $6.6 million from the Bureau of Reclamation in addition to the $2.4 million included in the FY2015 Appropriations bill, bringing total funding to $9 million for FY 2015. In a letter to the Bureau of Reclamation commissioner last month, the lawmakers pressed for strong funding to advance construction on the Lewis and Clark project. When completed, the project will cover a service territory of more than 5,000 square miles and provide drinking water to 300,000 residents and businesses in southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota. The letter was led by Klobuchar and Noem and co-signed by Senators John Thune (R-SD), Al Franken (D-MN), Charles Grassley (R-IA), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) as well as Representatives Collin Peterson (D-MN), Tim Walz (D-MN) and Steve King (R-IA).
“Rural water projects generate both short-term and long-term economic activity and expand economic development opportunities. The member communities awaiting connection to LCRWS have shown the ability to attract economic development if sufficient water supply is made available through the project,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter last month. “We look forward to working with you until the Lewis and Clark project is complete and the federal government has fulfilled its commitment.”
The full text of the lawmakers’ letter is below:
Dear Commissioner López:
Congratulations on your appointment as Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation. We look forward to working with you to fulfill the Bureau of Reclamation’s mission to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.
The Fiscal Year 2015 Omnibus Appropriations Bill provided the Bureau of Reclamation with an additional $31 million for ongoing work on authorized rural water projects. Authorized rural water projects within the Bureau of Reclamation play a key role in providing reliable, quality drinking water to communities in our states. One such project is the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System (LCRWS). When complete, it will cover a service territory of more than 5,000 square miles. As you consider how to allocate the funding for ongoing projects, we request that you give full consideration to the LCRWS project to advance construction in a meaningful way.
In 2000, Congress authorized LCRWS to supply high quality, dependable drinking water to more than 300,000 residents and businesses in southwest Minnesota, northwest Iowa and southeast South Dakota. The Lewis and Clark project is currently 65 percent complete and has seen significant investment at the local, state, and federal level, allowing for the construction of intake wells, a water treatment plant, pumping stations, and pipelines that now connect 11 of the 20 member systems. Local project sponsors and the three states have collectively pre-paid 100% of the non-federal cost share of $154 million. The remaining federal cost share to finish the entire project is just over $200 million.
Rural water projects generate both short-term and long-term economic activity and expand economic development opportunities. The member communities awaiting connection to LCRWS have shown the ability to attract economic development if sufficient water supply is made available through the project. For example, in Worthington, Minnesota, a large pork processing plant needs a reliable water supply before it can expand its operations. In Madison, South Dakota the lack of water is preventing the community from taking advantage of the new businesses and industries interested in moving to the community. In Hull, Iowa a dairy plant is ready to expand when sufficient water is available. These are just a few examples of many demonstrating the potential for economic growth with proper investment in LCRWS. As you evaluate how to allocate funding, we urge you to consider the ability of LCRWS to utilize funds to effectively promote economic development and jobs in communities in our states.
We look forward to working with you until the Lewis and Clark project is complete and the federal government has fulfilled its commitment. Thank you for your consideration of this request.
Sincerely,
