OREM, Utah - The Department of the Interior today celebrated the 30th anniversary of the Central Utah Project Completion Act (CUPCA), the state of Utah's largest and most comprehensive federal water resource development project. Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Tanya Trujillo joined local, state and federal partners to celebrate progress in completing the Central Utah Project and related mitigation actions, and to outline the work ahead as the West battles ongoing drought conditions.
The event also highlighted how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law provides $50 million in funding to accelerate the completion of the Utah Lake System pipeline construction. These new funds will expedite delivery of 60,000 acre-feet of municipal and industrial water to Salt Lake and Utah Counties and provide increased water security, helping communities adapt to and increase their resiliency under changing climate conditions. The Law also helps fund the Provo River Delta Restoration Project, which is a key component of the June Sucker Recovery Implementation Program.
"Over the past 30 years, thanks to this incredible partnership, we've seen innovative projects and programs completed that are making it possible to deliver water to 1.5 million people every day. This collaboration is a model for how we can work together on the pressing drought challenges facing the West," said Assistant Secretary Trujillo. "New investments from President Biden's Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will help address current and future water needs and deliver meaningful results for Utahns and the American people."
The Central Utah Project moves water from the Colorado River Basin in eastern Utah to the western slopes of the Wasatch Mountain range, where the state has seen a rapid growth in population. It provides water for municipal and industrial use, irrigation, hydroelectric power, fish and wildlife, conservation and recreation.
The Central Utah Project was authorized in 1956 under the Colorado River Storage Project Act, and CUPCA was enacted by Congress in 1992. CUPCA authorized additional funding for the project and transferred responsibility for planning, designing and constructing the remaining Central Utah Project features to the Central Utah Water Conservancy District.
The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law allocates $8.3 billion for Bureau of Reclamation water infrastructure projects over the next five years to advance drought resilience and expand access to clean water for families, farmers and wildlife. The investment will repair aging water delivery systems, secure dams and complete rural water projects, and protect aquatic ecosystems.
