Rep. Crane Leads Bipartisan Coalition to Request Upgraded Water Infrastructure for Page and Nearby Communities

Yesterday, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) issued a bipartisan letter to National Park Service Acting Director Jessica Bowron. The letter urges approval of $28.36 million in funding under the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) to rebuild and rehabilitate critical water infrastructure managed by Page Utility Enterprises (PUE).

Reps. Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Paul Gosar (R-AZ), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ) cosigned the letter, which seeks to secure reliable water access for Page, nearby Navajo Nation communities, and the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

The current system is over 60 years old, undersized, and at risk of failure. The 12-inch intake pipeline that runs through Glen Canyon Dam cannot meet peak seasonal demands and is vulnerable to declining water levels in Lake Powell. If water levels fall below the intake pipe, PUE may be unable to deliver water to its customers.

Additionally, the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires have burned thousands of acres in northern Arizona, including critical infrastructure. Combined with longstanding drought conditions, the region now faces immense pressure to find a long-term solution.

In 2020, the passage of the GAOA allocated up to $1.3 billion annually for five years to modernize infrastructure and expand recreation access across national parks and public lands. Although the program has reached its initial five-year funding period, the representatives believe this project meets GAOA's goals and merits serious consideration should funds remain available or the program be reauthorized.

If approved, the project would include:

• A new water intake and pump station on the south side of Lake Powell
• A new 18-inch pipeline to replace the aging infrastructure
• Increased water delivery capacity from 3.3 million gallons/day (mgd) to 6.6 mgd

"I'm proud to lead this bipartisan letter to ensure Page and surrounding communities have reliable water delivery infrastructure. With the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires devastating the region, we must do more for what is a critical gateway to the North Rim of the Grand Canyon" said Rep. Crane. "I'm grateful to Reps. Stanton, Gosar, and Biggs for joining this effort, and we will continue pushing for a positive outcome."