Press Releases

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly voted to pass the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA), which included three provisions championed by Representative Brittany Pettersen (CO-07) to improve Colorado’s water infrastructure. 

WRDA is a legislative package that provides Members of Congress the opportunity to authorize U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Civil Works projects to improve the nation’s waterways and water infrastructure, flood and storm protection, ports and harbors, the inland waterway navigation network, and other water resources infrastructure.

Included in WRDA is Pettersen’s bill - the John Griffin Regional Reservoir Project Act - which authorizes a $50 million investment to reconnect John Griffin Regional Park in Cañon City to the Arkansas River ecosystem. Pettersen worked on this provision after hearing directly from Fremont County officials about their plans to create a reservoir within John Griffin Regional Park and the need for federal assistance.

“I’ve heard directly from Coloradans about the urgent need to improve our water infrastructure, particularly in our rural communities,” said Pettersen. “After meeting with Cañon City officials and learning about their need for federal support to reconnect the John Griffin Regional Park channels to the Arkansas River, I fought to include this provision. Today, I’m grateful the House passed this legislation with bipartisan support. I will continue working to secure federal resources like this that will make a tangible difference in our communities.”

In May, Rep. Pettersen visited John Griffin Regional Park in Cañon City, where she heard updates from officials about efforts to reconnect John Griffin Regional Park’s channels to the Arkansas River. 

“The city is excited to see this vital community project continue along the path towards reality,” said Leo Evans, Director of Department of Public Works, Cañon City. “We look forward to continued progress and partnership between the local, state, and federal partners as we move one step closer to completion.”

Pettersen also successfully included a provision to designate Corps regional staff as Technical Assistance Liaisons to support communities with federal water infrastructure projects and a provision to include low-head dams in the National Inventory of Dams to protect recreators, such as rafters and kayakers. 

Background: 

John Griffin Regional Reservoir Project Act: Included in WRDA is Rep. Pettersen’s bill authorizing a $50 million investment to reconnect the John Griffin Regional Park channels in Cañon City to the Arkansas River ecosystem. Today, landscape scars in John Griffin Regional Park demonstrate that this area once had a wide floodplain with braided channels. Side channels still exist, but are disconnected from the Arkansas River, leading to potential floods and other natural disasters. This investment will reconnect remaining side channels, boost water storage, create a natural barrier to protect against wildfires, and create more space for recreational use.

Establishing Technical Assistance Liaisons: This provision authorizes Economic Development Administration Regional Directors to designate a regional staff member to act as a Technical Assistance Liaison to help them navigate federal processes as they develop water infrastructure plans and projects. These liaisons will give guidance to local partners on accessing federal programs, services and other assistance that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers can provide.

Low-head Dam Inventory in the National Inventory of Dams: Low-head dams can be difficult to see and often can cause turbulent waters that can pose a risk to swimmers, kayakers, and other recreators. Pettersen pushed to clearly define low-head dams in WRDA, ensuring that they are reflected in the National Inventory of Dams. The National Inventory of Dams is a database that documents dams, including both maps and a repository of dams across the country. This inclusion of low-head dams in the National Inventory of Dams will help protect recreators, such as rafters and kayakers, by identifying potentially dangerous low-head dams.