The Bureau of Reclamation (Department of the Interior) awarded Fort Mojave Tribal Council $615,854 under the Indian Tribal Water Resources Development, Management, and Protection program (CFDA 15.519) on October 1, 2025, with completion targeted for July 31, 2026. This Project Grant funds the replacement of aging irrigation pumping infrastructure on the California side of the Fort Mojave Indian Tribe's reservation lands near Needles. The project addresses critical water management challenges arising from extended drought conditions along the lower Colorado River by replacing pumps, motors, and supporting structures originally installed in the 1980s that have reached the end of their operational life.
The deliverables include complete removal and replacement of existing pump station components, enabling intakes to be lowered to ensure continued water availability for the tribe's agricultural operations. The new pumping equipment will incorporate technological advances that substantially improve energy efficiency compared to legacy systems. Avi Kwa Ame Farms will collaborate with the Bureau of Reclamation throughout project execution. This award directly supports the Fort Mojave Tribe's economic sustainability by securing reliable irrigation water supplies essential to agricultural production, which remains a primary income source for delivering tribal member services.