Mapleton, Ore. – The Mapleton Water District (MWD) is grappling with significant financial setbacks following the cancellation of the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program by the Federal Emergency Management Administration (FEMA). District officials confirmed that the cancellation has not only halted future funding but has also nullified approved grant applications dating back to 2020.
Among the most notable casualties is a $2.7 million application submitted by MWD for a 300,000-gallon water storage tank project, designed to provide an emergency potable water supply to the community. In addition, two sub-applications intended for other water system improvements have also been revoked, exacerbating the district’s financial challenges. These applications, initially submitted by Lane County in early 2023, were part of MWD’s broader efforts to enhance its water infrastructure and ensure long-term reliability.
Vanessa West, chair of the MWD Board of Commissioners, expressed her frustration with the situation, emphasizing the years of volunteer and community effort invested in the grant applications. “Local volunteers, board members, and County staff have been working on this for years,” West said. “So, to see all this work go to waste is disheartening. The need for additional storage, particularly on the east side of our system, remains, and we hope that the work that was put into this application can be reused for a future funding opportunity.”
The setback comes at a time when the district’s infrastructure is in critical need of improvement. Art Donnelly, MWD’s vice chair and chair of the grant committee, noted that the water system requires approximately $20 million in upgrades to meet current demands and future needs. However, without the necessary grant support, the district faces the difficult choice of seeking loans to fund these improvements. Such financing could result in steep annual loan payments, which may drive up water rates and make service unaffordable for many residents.
The cancellation of the BRIC program has left the Mapleton Water District in a precarious position, with no clear path forward for securing the necessary funding to ensure a reliable and safe water supply for the community. While MWD officials remain hopeful that their work can be leveraged for future opportunities, the immediate impact of the grant loss is a harsh reality for both the district and its residents.
As the district looks for alternative funding options, it remains uncertain when or how the necessary infrastructure improvements will be made, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of the water system.
