By Mallory Feeney and Andy Bixler
Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Representative Barbara McLachlan, and Senators Dylan Roberts and Cleave Simpson last week sponsored a joint resolution (SJM24-002) to urge Congress to fully fund the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act, which would provide $35 million in funding for critical infrastructure projects across the country, including the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project (PRIIP). The PRIIP carries freshwater to the Southern Ute Indian Tribal land and is in desperate need of repair.
“The Pine River Indian Irrigation Project is a vital resource for the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and surrounding communities, and its deteriorated condition makes it nearly impossible for users to rely on it for fresh water,” said Speaker Julie McCluksie, D-Dillon. “Recent federal legislation authorized $35 million each year to update, maintain and repair critical projects, including the Pine River Indian Irrigation project. However, Congress has never appropriated this full amount, and the PRIIP has only received $135,000. We’re calling on Congress to appropriate the full $35 million to ensure this vital water project can be preserved and maintained.”
The PRIIP was constructed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs during the late 1800s and early 1900s and the continued deterioration of the water system means that only an estimated 15 percent of the 175 miles of canals is considered to be in good condition. This water system services the Southern Ute Indian Tribal lands and parts of Ignacio, Colorado for drinking and irrigation purposes.
“The deterioration of the Pine River Indian Irrigation Project means the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and those living in remote communities in Southwestern Colorado have unreliable freshwater resources for both drinking and agricultural needs,” said Rep. Barbara McLachlan, D-Durango. “This resolution is a call on Congress to fully fund commitments to the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and make it possible for the PRIIP to serve communities as intended. The Colorado Drought River Task Force recommendations are clear, repairing this irrigation project is an urgent matter because the Southern Ute Indian Tribe has been living with unpredictable, unreliable water resources for far too long.”
Since the WIIN Act was enacted in 2016, the Bureau of Indian Affairs Southern Ute Agency which maintains the PRIIP, has only received $135,000 for repairs. The WIIN Act, if fully funded, authorizes an annual $35 million allocation split amongst many Tribal needs across the country, including the PRIIP. However, Congress has never fully appropriated the $35 million. In 2023, the Bureau of Indian Affairs completed a modernization plan for the PRIIP system which estimates a cost of $60.7 million, while other cost estimates for modernization range as high as $109 million.
“The Ute nation especially knows that water is the lifeblood of our state,” said Senator Cleve Simpson, R-Alamosa. “This joint memorial is meant to highlight the federal government’s inaction in addressing water infrastructure, and my hope is to see the federal government step up, and live up to its commitments to the sovereign Ute Nation.”
Last year, the Colorado River Drought Task Force deemed the deterioration of the PRIIP an urgent matter for Colorado to ensure Tribal communities have access to drinking water, maintain their traditional water use, and enjoy a thriving agricultural industry. Additionally, Governor Polis sent a letter to Congress urging them to fulfill their promise.
Mallory Feeney is House Deputy Communications Director. Andy Bixler is Senate Communications Director.
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