Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) released the following statement applauding the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Rural Development agency for awarding a grant of $465,000 to the Yerington Paiute Tribe and the City of Yerington for water infrastructure improvements.
“I want to thank the USDA for awarding necessary funds to the City of Yerington to replace aging water infrastructure. In an arid state like Nevada, the importance of protecting our infrastructure and improving the conservation and delivery of safe, clean water cannot be overstated. This grant will help ensure that the Yerington Paiute Tribe has the reliable and modern water distribution system they need. I will continue to work hard to direct more federal dollars to the State of Nevada and for our Native American tribes. The trust relationship the federal government has with its Native American communities must be respected. I will continue to fight for that relationship by securing critical investments that improve the quality of life for Native American families in Nevada and that strengthen our local economies.”
BACKGROUND:
This subsequent Rural Development grant will be used to replace the water distribution system that was originally installed in the 1960s. Dues to escalation in costs, additional funding was necessary. The system is in poor condition and in need of replacement. The water mains are undersized and cannot deliver adequate fire flow in the colony, and there are leaks in the lines causing water loss and increasing operations and maintenance costs. The project will benefit the 277 residents of the Yerington Paiute Tribe of the Yerington Colony.