The FY23 Appropriations Bill that was signed into law Dec. 29 by President Biden includes $18.6 million for ongoing construction of the Lewis & Clark Regional Water System (L&C), according to a press release issued Wednesday by water system staff.
This total includes the $6.6 million proposed by the administration, as well as the $12 million congressionally directed spending request made by Senators Amy Klobuchar, Mike Rounds and Tina Smith.
Executive Director Troy Larson said in the press release that the critically needed funding will be used to cover the remaining costs of four projects currently under construction that were planned to be paid for over two fiscal years. These projects include two segments of the Madison service line (combined 32 miles), the one-million-gallon water tower just west of Sheldon and improvements at the water treatment plant.
Larson offered thanks to Senators Amy Klobuchar, Mike Rounds and Tina Smith for requesting the additional funding, as well as the rest of the tristate congressional delegation for their continued strong support.
The Bureau of Reclamation is expected to soon announce how much funding L&C will receive in FY23 from the bipartisan Infrastructure law. L&C officials anticipate it will be in the range of $55 million to $65 million. These funds will be used to award new projects that are part of the “base system” of 44.19 million gallons a day.
