AUSTIN, TX — The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) approved approximately $69.5 million in Water Supply Infrastructure Grants for canal lining and conversion projects in the Rio Grande Valley, co-funded with the North American Development Bank (NADBank).

These funds were made available by House Bill 500, passed by the 89th Texas Legislature and signed into law by Abbott, which appropriated $1.038 billion in funds for water supply and infrastructure projects to the Texas Water Development Board. A portion of that appropriation was included for joint funded efforts with the North American Development Bank’s Water Resiliency Program to address canal lining and conversion projects. For these projects, TWDB financial assistance provides approximately 50 percent of the proposed project costs for eligible projects, with NADBank and other funding covering the remaining project costs.

This grant solicitation resulted in applications from 13 irrigation districts in the Lower Rio Grande Valley for this opportunity, and projects were prioritized according to the amount of water saved or conserved, community benefits, other environmental benefits, cost-effectiveness, and project readiness.

The following 17 projects approved for funding are expected to conserve nearly 44,000 acre-feet of water annually through infrastructure improvements such as canal lining, canal-to-pipeline conversions, and system efficiency upgrades:

• $6.5 million to Cameron County Irrigation District No. 6 for canal lining improvements
• $6 million to Cameron County Irrigation District No. 2 for canal lining improvements and a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $2.2 million to Delta Lake Irrigation District for pump station rehabilitation and a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $529,089 to Delta Lake Irrigation District for a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $1.02 million to Delta Lake Irrigation District for pump station rehabilitation and a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $1.15 million to Donna Irrigation District for canal lining improvements
• $160,000 to Engelman Irrigation District for a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $1.37 million to Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 for pump station relocation and a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $7.75 million to Harlingen Irrigation District Cameron County No. 1 for a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $6 million to Hidalgo and Cameron County Irrigation District No. 9 for a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $5 million to Hidalgo County Consolidated Water Control and Improvement District for canal lining improvements
• $5.04 million to Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 for canal lining improvements
• $4.63 million to Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 1 for canal lining improvements
• $3.14 million to Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 6 for pump station improvements, canal lining improvements, and a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $8 million to Hidalgo County Irrigation District No. 6 for pump station construction and canal lining improvements
• $6 million to La Feria Irrigation District Cameron County #3 for a canal-to-pipeline conversion
• $5 million to United Irrigation District for canal lining improvements