Hearing of the Senate Indian Affairs Committee - S.438, The Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation for Indian Tribal Governments and Their Economies Act (the IRRIGATE Act)

Hearing

"In the late 1880s and early 1900s*, the Department of the Interior initiated several irrigation projects across Indian reservations in the west.

"These irrigation projects were intended to be a central component for tribal economies.

"Construction on these projects ended sometime in the 1940s and many Indian irrigation projects were never fully completed.

"In 2006, the Government Accountability Office found that many of these projects were plagued by maintenance issues, structural deficiencies, and insufficient funding for project operations.

"In recent years, the Committee has held two hearings on Indian irrigation projects -- a field hearing in Wyoming in 2011 and an oversight hearing in September, 2014.

"Those hearings confirmed a serious backlog in deferred maintenance exists and continues to grow.

"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 estimate it may be even higher than that, much higher.

"Today, the Indian irrigation program is responsible for the oversight and administration of these projects that deliver water to over 25,000 users.

"One of these projects is on the Wind River reservation in my home state of Wyoming.

"This legislation would also facilitate more collaboration between the tribes and states.

"Many other Indian irrigation projects are in the states of Members who sit on this Committee, including -- Montana, Washington, Arizona, New Mexico, and Idaho

"Careful management of 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 bill would also require a study on the operation of these projects.

"These projects continue to be a very important source of income and economic development for the surrounding communities.

"The Federal Government's promise to Indian Country to build and maintain these projects needs to be fulfilled. This bill is a start in the right direction."

*Senator Barrasso said 1990s -- and intended to say 1900s.

Source