Inflation Reduction Act Tracker

Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
Environmental Defense Fund

IRA Section 50233 – Drought Mitigation in the Reclamation Sites

Section 50233 of the IRA appropriates to the DOI, through the Commissioner of Reclamation, $4 billion for grants and other funding for public entities and Indian tribes to conduct specific drought mitigation activities. The eligible drought mitigation activities include compensation for diversion of water or consumptive water use, voluntary conservation projects that reduce water use or provide other environmental benefits, and drought-related ecosystem and habitat restoration projects. Only public entities in the states and territories listed in 43 U.S.C. § 391 are eligible, and priority will be given to the Colorado River Basin and other basins experiencing comparable long-term drought conditions.

The Secretary of the Interior is required to submit an annual report describing these expenditures made under section 50233 of the IRA to Congress.

The funds appropriated by section 50233 of the IRA will remain available through September 30, 2026.

Eligible Entities:

State/Territorial Government, Native American/Indigenous Community

Current Status:

No change under Trump administration

Implementation Status at End of Biden Administration:

In Progress

DOI has awarded hundreds of millions of dollars to support over 100 projects. The exact amount is difficult to determine because IRA funds have been commingled with funds from other sources, such as the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, for these projects. Additional funding is still available and applications for funding remain open at the end of Biden’s term.

Biden Administration Actions:

Program Stakes:

The IRA’s drought-related funding appropriated to DOI is critical to ensuring Western communities will be resilient to drought and climate change. At greatest stake is the Colorado River System. DOI’s already disbursed funds are being prioritized to enhance the short- and long-term sustainability of the Colorado River System, and to support domestic water supply projects for disadvantaged communities, including in tribal communities and U.S. territories.