Coverage of tribal natural resources is supported in part by Catena Foundation
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of the Interior announced $27 million from President Joe Biden’s Investing in America agenda to upgrade clean water systems and replace failing dams for tribal communities, including one in Arizona.
More than $10 million has been set aside for the complete replacement of a 22-foot-tall earthen dam in the Sonoran Desert at the Tohono O’odham Nation.
An O’odham community, named Menagers Dam, is located along the U.S.-Mexico border near Lukeville.
Construction of a new dam is supposed to improve public safety and substantial flood protection for downstream towns and villages.
Historically, churning flood waters during Hurricane Rosa in 2018 made for dangerous road conditions.
