Funding will bolster connectivity and enable progress towards project completion

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Thune (R-SD), and Mike Rounds (R-SD) announced that they have secured $21.9 million in federal funding to support the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System. This funding will help construct segment lines to bolster the connectivity of the water system and enable progress towards the completion of the project. 

“Completing the Lewis and Clark water system is critical for delivering reliable, clean water to  businesses and residents in the region,” said Klobuchar. “I am proud to have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to secure these resources and bring us one step closer to completing this project.” 

“This is the only tristate drinking water system in the country, and when completed will provide clean water to 350,000 people in southwest Minnesota, southeast South Dakota, and northwest Iowa,” said Smith. “Reliable access to clean water is critical to not only meet people’s basic needs, but to protect public health. This funding will help close the gap so they can work toward connecting the remaining five member communities and provide reliable, clean water to the tristate area.”

“The Lewis and Clark Regional Water System provides safe and reliable drinking water to communities across South Dakota,” said Thune. “I’m proud to have helped secure this much-needed funding, and I look forward to seeing the completion of this project.”  

“The Lewis & Clark Regional Water System has been a key provider of clean, reliable water to our communities for the past decade,” said Rounds. “This increased funding will assist in expanding the impact of the system on the people of South Dakota, Minnesota and Iowa for years to come. This funding was secured thanks to the hard work of partners at the local, state and federal levels who are determined to see the project through to completion."

“This is great news for Lewis & Clark and an increase from the $17.5 million approved in FY21!  The $21.914 million was from the congressionally directed spending requests made by Senators John Thune, Amy Klobuchar, Mike Rounds and Tina Smith.  Strong support for increased funding was also provided by Senators Chuck Grassley and Joni Ernst, as well as Representatives Dusty Johnson, Randy Feenstra, Michelle Fischbach and the late Jim Hagedorn.  We cannot thank these four senators enough for including Lewis & Clark in their congressional directed spending requests, as well as to the entire tristate congressional delegation for going to bat for us once again,” said Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Executive Director Troy Larson. 

Klobuchar and Smith have long pushed to secure additional funding for the Lewis and Clark Regional Water System, and ensure that communities across Southwestern Minnesota can reliably access sources of clean water to bolster economic growth. 

Klobuchar and Smith have been actively involved in securing this federal funding for projects benefiting communities in Minnesota through a process called “Congressionally Directed Spending” (CDS). Throughout the CDS process, Klobuchar and Smith have considered project proposals and advocated for funding in close coordination with leaders from across Minnesota.

Projects are expected to receive funding over the next several months.

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