Publisher's Synopsis
In the late 1880s and early 1890s, the Department of Interior initiated irrigation projects across Indian reservations in the west. These irrigation projects were intended to be a central component for tribal economies. Construction of these projects ended sometime in the 1940s and many irrigation projects were never fully completed. In 2006, the Government Accountability Office found many of these projects were plagued by maintenance issues, structural deficiencies and insufficient funding for project operations. Many ranchers and farmers, both Indian and non-Indian, still depend on the Bureau of Indian Affairs to deliver water for their needs. While the Bureau has indicated the current backlog costs exceed $567 million, some Indian tribes have estimated it may be even higher than that, much higher. Careful management of the water in Indian communities is essential if we are to ensure a reliable supply for the future. The IRRIGATE Act would bring the Indian irrigation projects into the 21st century. It would authorize $35 million each year beginning in fiscal year 2016 until fiscal year 2036 to begin addressing the deferred maintenance needs. The Federal Government's promises to Indian country to build and maintain irrigation projects needs to be fulfilled. This bill is a start in the right direction.
