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The Bureau of Reclamation will spend $50 million on six rural water projects throughout the western United States, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar announced recently.

Mostly dedicated to providing potable water to communities, the funding also includes $500,000 for the Odessa Subarea Special Study (Columbia Basin Project) to be used to complete the Environmental Impact Statement and associated analyses, such as hydrologic modeling, engineering and economic assessments, to complete the study on schedule.

It will also provide $750,000 for modifications to the headgates at Pinto Dam that will prevent overtopping during high storm runoffs. Overtopping the canal could result in a breach of the canal and affect Pinto Dam.