Sinema, Kelly invest over $2.5M from bipartisan Infrastructure Law to reduce flooding, protect river wildlife on tribal lands
WASHINGTON (KYMA, KECY) - Arizona Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly (both D-AZ) announce investments for two projects that will repair and protect river wildlife and reduce flooding on tribal lands.
The investments will total over $2.5 million and come from the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs law which is Sinema-led and backed by Kelly.
“Today’s investments from our bipartisan infrastructure law will help protect tribal communities from flooding, keeping Arizonans safe and ensuring continued economic growth while restoring and strengthening river wildlife for years to come,” said Sen. Sinema.
$2,310,000 and $1,260,000 in partner matching are going towards re-opening access to 52.4 miles of habitat to repair the Apache Trout—Arizona's state fish.
The main projection of this is to remove seven barriers and replace six culverts located on White Mountain Apache Tribal land that are no longer needed in hopes of creating larger metapopulations of Apache Trout.
“Our work to secure these investments for flood mitigation and river wildlife protection on tribal lands will promote economic growth and sustainability in Arizona’s tribal communities,” said Sen. Kelly.
The second project is providing $240,000 and $20,000 in partner match funding for the Bylas Springs Complex infrastructure project in San Carlos Apache Tribal land.
This will renovate broken-down infrastructure that will better aid the fish habitat and connectivity at multiple neighboring springs.
The Bylas Springs Complex offers useful habitat for Gila Topminnow—an endangered fish native to the great Gila River watershed in Arizona.
