Dr. Ruiz Praises Bipartisan Infrastructure Law’s $8 Million Investment in Imperial Dam
The Imperial Dam is essential to clean water access for Southern California communities
Winterhaven, CA – Today, Congressman Raul Ruiz, M.D. (CA-25) joined Deputy Secretary of the Interior Tommy Beaudreau, Senior Advisor to the President and White House Infrastructure Implementation Coordinator Mitch Landrieu, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton, and U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) in announcing an $8.24 million award for the Colorado River Basin’s Imperial Dam.
“I’m most especially excited to celebrate the $8 million investment that will benefit the Colorado River Basin’s Imperial Dam,” said Dr. Ruiz. “The Imperial Dam is the cornerstone of water access for the Imperial Valley and its surrounding communities, helping nourish the crops that sustain our local economy.
“Equally important, this water feeds into the shrinking Salton Sea—an environmental and public health crisis for our entire region. By making much-needed upgrades to the Imperial Dam’s aging infrastructure, we will shore up our region’s access to clean water and address the worsening drought we face. This $8 million investment will go a long way in protecting against the harmful conditions at the Salton Sea all while making sure our farmers have the resources they need. This is a win for our public health, a win for our environment, and a win for our economy.”
Today’s announcement was part of a $585 million investment announced from President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law for infrastructure repairs on water delivery systems throughout the West. In total, the funding will benefit 83 projects in 11 states to increase drought resilience and improve water delivery systems.
Today, Dr. Ruiz joined officials in visiting the Imperial Dam. Photos and video footage can be found here.
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