Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act

The Colorado River Basin Water Security and Infrastructure Act establishes a federal program providing $5 billion in financial assistance for water projects that increase the reliable supply of water for states in the basin, including Arizona, California, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming. The bill mandates expedited federal permitting by excluding covered projects from National Environmental Policy Act requirements and setting strict deadlines for agency decisions to accelerate infrastructure development. It directs the Secretary of the Interior to restore the Yuma Desalting Plant and negotiate with Mexico to build seawater desalination facilities that would reduce the amount of Colorado River water required to meet U.S. treaty obligations. Additionally, the legislation authorizes $12 billion for major federal construction projects in California, Arizona, Nevada, and the Upper Basin to capture, store, or transport water, while explicitly stating that it does not alter existing state water rights or interstate compacts.