Photo: Heather Sackett/Aspen Journalism

The money to buy the Shoshone hydroelectric power plant water rights is part of $388.3 million in total that the Bureau of Reclamation announced Friday under its Upper Colorado River Basin Environmental Program to improve wildlife and aquatic habitats, ecological stability and resilience against drought. The money will support 42 projects in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming, as well as tribal initiatives. Tens of millions of dollars will go to other western Colorado projects besides the Shoshone project, according to Friday’s announcement.

The Colorado River District is working with partners to raise $99 million to pay Xcel Energy for the water rights associated with the power plant in Glenwood Canyon. Between $20 million apiece pledged by the river district and state of Colorado, and fundraising efforts involving Western Slope governments and other entities, more than $56 million previously had been committed to the purchase. The federal pledge means the fundraising effort is now close to reaching its goal.

The water rights are pivotal to Colorado River flows in western Colorado. They include a 1902 right to flows of 1,250 cubic feet per second and a 1929 right of 158 cfs. Due to their seniority, the rights help assure flows of as much as 1,408 cfs into Glenwood Canyon even at times of lower river flows when diversions by junior upstream water rights holders otherwise could further lower the river. Because the plant’s water use is nonconsumptive, the water it uses returns to the river and is available for agricultural and municipal uses and also provides recreational and environmental benefits