Colorado Receives $47 Million in Drought Mitigation Funds After Long Delay
The federal government has released $47 million in funding to support four drought mitigation projects in Colorado, addressing the impacts of severe drought conditions and the strained Colorado River. This funding, originally allocated under the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), had been frozen for over a year following an executive order by President Trump in January 2025. The projects include stream restoration, wetland reconstruction, and infrastructure improvements, as well as efforts to support endangered species recovery. U.S. Senators Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper emphasized the importance of these funds for Colorado's future. However, this release represents only a portion of the promised funding, with over $90 million still pending, including $40 million earmarked for the Shoshone water rights purchase. The Bureau of Reclamation has not provided a clear explanation for the delay but stated that projects were assessed based on criticality and other criteria. 
