Cleaner Water
Water 2025: Preventing Crises and Conflict in the West
The Department of the Interior's Water 2025 Initiative responds to the western drought by focusing Federal
financial and technical resources in key western watersheds and on critical research and development to help
predict, prevent, and alleviate water supply conflicts.
Water 2025 will help stretch or increase water supplies to satisfy the demands of growing populations,
protect environmental needs, and strengthen regional, tribal, and local economies. It will provide added
environmental benefits to many watersheds, rivers, and streams, and minimize water crises by improving the
environment and addressing the effects of drought on communities. Finally, Water 2025 will provide a balanced,
practical approach to water management even after the drought is over. The President's FY 2005 budget calls
for an investment of $21 million for such efforts.
One Water 2025 program, the FY 2005 Challenge Grant program, helps pay for conservation improvements that
will help prevent crises and conflicts over limited water resources. The program shows how leveraging the
Federal investment can provide tremendous benefits: $4 million is helping to fund 19 projects that will
generate almost $30 million in on-the-ground water delivery system improvements.