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Finish the AVC Act Passes U.S. Senate, Paving the Way to Complete Arkansas Valley Conduit for Clean Water in Southeast Colorado
Description: The U.S. Senate unanimously approved the Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act, reducing project costs and easing local financial burdens. The legislation supports delivering clean drinking water to 50,000 residents across 39 Southeast Colorado communities as AVC construction continues. Read the Full Press Release from the Southeast Colorado Water Conservancy District...
Finish the AVC Act passes Senate
Federal legislation that will help build the Arkansas Valley Conduit (AVC) at an affordable cost to participants cleared the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, December 16, 2025 by unanimous acclamation.
Senator Michael Bennet spoke on the Senate floor Tuesday on the importance of the “Finish the Arkansas Valley Conduit Act.”
“This is the last component of the Fryingpan-Arkansas Project, a federal diversion and storage project approved by Congress in 1962,” Bennet said. “This lowers the interest rate and provides more flexibility in payment. … This relieves a huge challenge to these communities, many of whom must now rely on contaminated drinking water.”
Bennet was joined by Senator John Hickenlooper and Representatives Lauren Boebert and Jeff Hurd, who secured passage of an identical bill in the House of Representatives in July.
The bill reduces interest payments and allows for a federal determination of economic hardship to relieve payment obligations. This will allow local communities more flexibility to finish their investments in this critical project.
The Southeastern Colorado Water Conservancy District sought the legislation in 2024, after the estimated cost of the project doubled because of inflation in the construction industry.
“We cannot thank Colorado’s Congressional delegation enough for the effort they put into making this bill a reality,” said Bill Long, President of the Southeastern District board. “The AVC has always enjoyed bipartisan support, but this effort was simply above and beyond in terms of importance to the people of Southeastern Colorado.”
Upon completion, the Arkansas Valley Conduit would provide access to clean water to 50,000 residents in 39 communities in Southeast Colorado, including Pueblo, Bent, Prowers, Kiowa and Baca Counties. The project was authorized in 1962 and was delayed because of the cost to the participants. AVC Construction began in 2023, and continues to progress.
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