Funding Released for Shoshone Water Rights in Western Colorado
The grant brings the River District to $97 million of the $98.5 million needed, moving the deal into the contracting phase.
- On Friday, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation released $40 million to the Colorado River District, unfreezing funds for the Shoshone Water Rights Project on the Colorado River.
- President Donald Trump's administration froze the grant in early 2025, pending review of the Biden-era Inflation Reduction Act award intended to help the district purchase historic water rights from Xcel Energy.
- Republican Rep. Jeff Hurd of Grand Junction spearheaded the successful lobbying effort, bringing total project financing to $97 million, just shy of the $99 million needed for acquisition.
- Colorado River District general manager Andy Mueller called the release a "major breakthrough," allowing the coalition to advance water court and regulatory approval processes required to finalize the transaction.
- While this milestone secures majority funding, the district still needs $2 million to complete the purchase, and $52 million in funding for other Colorado water projects remains frozen.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Trump administration releases $40 million for Colorado River District’s purchase of the historic Shoshone water rights
After nearly 17 months of being frozen, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation has released the $40 million promised to the Colorado River District to aid in its acquisition of the Shoshone water rights. With these dollars — awarded initially as part of the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act and paused by President Donald Trump’s Day 1 order, “Unleashing American Energy” — the River District now has raised $97 million of the total $98.5 mi…
Denver Post
Trump administration releases critical federal money for major Colorado River water rights purchase
The Trump administration has unfrozen $40 million in federal funding to help Western Slope groups purchase the Shoshone senior water rights on the Colorado River.
Trump administration releases $40 million for historic Colorado River water rights purchase
In a major win for the Western Slope, the Trump administration released $40 million in funding for the purchase of powerful historic water rights on the Colorado River tied to the Shoshone Power Plant. The Colorado River Water Conservation District, which spans 15 counties in western Colorado, has been leading the charge since 2023 to purchase the water rights from the hydropower facility’s owner, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, for $99 million. In…
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