Though their climates could not be more different, the Colonias of the rural southwest United States and the Alaska Native Villages, share similar struggles with inadequate infrastructure. Though many rural and tribal communities face real challenges, as a whole these areas are most lacking in access to safe drinking water and proper sanitation.

We recently heard about two positive stories involving funding from U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Water and Environmental Program. 

On the Tohono O'odham Nation in southwest Arizona, "a partnership between USDA RD and the Indian Health Services made possible the construction of stand-alone modular bathrooms—with a toilet, shower, water heater, and indoor/outdoor lighting." 

Three thousand miles away in Toksook Bay, Alaska residents are looking forward to a new USDA-funded treatment plant that "will provide these residents with improved health to people who currently self-haul waste in five gallon buckets and collect rain for drinking water."

In both regions, federal agencies are actively collaborating to address the water infrastructure and other needs. The Border Capital Community Initiative institutes a partnership between USDA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Treasury Department.

Similarly, the Infrastructure Task Force to Improve Access to Safe Drinking Water and Basic Sanitation in Indian Country includes five federal partners: USDA, HUD, Department of Health and Human Services (Indian Health Service), Department of the Interior (Bureau of Indian Affairs), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 

Additional Posts on Tribal Funding

• Grant funding in action for tribal water needs
• Tribal groups putting available funds to use

In any new water project, the structure and management of the project are important factors of success. You need to know how things will be done and whom will do them. These details are often required when applying for loan or grant funding in the form of a Quality Assurance Project Plan or QAPP. 

The U.S. EPA has a number of resources related to Quality Assurance Project Plans. Generally the EPA requires a Quality Assurance Project Plan when projects are directly conducted by the EPA, or when they are funded by a grant, contract, or other agreement from the EPA.

New projects to improve infrastructure and facilities improvements at tribal colleges have been funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The grants come from the department's Rural Development program and the Tribal College Grant initiative.

Twenty one of the 39 tribal colleges within the United States, which all hold federal land-grant college status, are recipients of this funding. Land-grant colleges traditionally focus on agriculture, science, and engineering education, though many offer a broader curriculum today. Thus, many of the tribal colleges offer environmental programs that include water-related education. 

This funding will not only support improved facility conditions on campus, but bolster these institutions and their education of future water professionals. 

A youth camp led by graduate students from the University of Idaho gets students from the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane tribes involved in outdoor activities and, more importantly, hands-on scientific water study.