In July of 2024, the Southwestern Water Conservation Board of Directors identified a need for a regional group to help expand the capacity of the SW Basin and help apply for large amounts of Federal Funding currently available. With diminishing water availability in the West due to drought, aridification, and growing populations, there is an ongoing need to conserve water while maintaining the economic viability of our communities.  SWCD is interested in pursuing the ongoing development of these projects and in advancing water conservation efforts to help the region maintain economic viability and quality of life in the face of ongoing drought, increasing water demands, and other challenges.

Currently, there are ample opportunities to conserve water within our existing systems.  The projects in the SW BIP all share this common goal.  Projects that upgrade agricultural water infrastructure, make more efficient use of existing water supplies, improve flow monitoring and water management, restore habitats and ecosystems, and provide thoughtful development of municipal and industrial water services all continue to support ongoing conservation efforts in the Southwest Basin.

When the 2022 Southwest Basin Implementation Plan (SW BIP) was completed, it identified 148 projects in the Southwest Basin with an estimated $790 million construction cost.  This price tag presents a huge challenge as project proponents don’t have the revenue to fund projects on their own.  The current update of the SW BIP coincides with historic federal funding that is available to fund these projects now.  Accessing federal funding can increase the number, scale, and timeline of projects implemented in the Southwest Basin.