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Scottsdale is seeking federal grant dollars for a drought resiliency project through the U.S. Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation.
Earlier this summer, Scottsdale City Council adopted resolution No. 11864 authorizing the submission of a grant application for a WaterSMART Drought Response program federal monetary gift beginning fiscal year 2020-21. The resolution was approved on consent, unanimously, by the council.
The Department of Interior Bureau of Reclamation is accepting grant applications that will build long-term resilience to drought and reduce the need for emergency response actions, according to a city staff report.
These projects plan for and implement actions to increase water supply reliability through investments in “new and exciting” infrastructure, the report stated.
Through the Drought Response Program, the bureau aids local governments with water delivery authority to undertake projects that will increase the reliability of water supplies.
Scottsdale seeks to use the funds for the water department’s Water Aquifer Storage and Recovery Project, which includes design and construction of deep well water recharge and recovery facilities to ensure long-term sustainability of the city’s drinking water aquifer.
“Scottsdale Water has a history of continuously striving to promote water use efficiency and improvement water supply reliability,” the staff report penned by Enterprise and Finance Director Gina Kirklin stated.
“The city uses aquifers for both short and long term storage of water and needs improved capacity to store more water to meeting ‘Save Yield’ and enhance drought preparedness.”
The city’s project aligns with the Drought Resiliency Program in that it will increase the reliability of water supplies.
The staff report states capital improvement project expense covered by the grant has been anticipated, and requested budget authority is included in the adopted FY 2020-21 budget.
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.