Water O&M Bulletins

Water Operations and Maintenance Bulletins

These bulletins provide useful tips and guidance on a wide range of topics for water and irrigation districts so we can all operate at peak efficiency. Don’t miss our latest issue! Subscribe by emailing drowateroandm@usbr.gov.

Applied Hydrology: Fall 2023, No. 261

Applied Hydrology

This issue features an Applied Hydrology overview and the American River Basin Study and Willow Creek Flood Hazard Analysis Case Studies. "Application of Geographic Information Systems in Wildland Fire Management" explores a project to map and determine wildfire risk for Reclamation assets. "Fall Water Conservation Tips" shares seasonal best practices for water systems operators. And we conducted our Q&A with Sherri Pucherelli, Biologist and Research Coordinator in the Technical Service Center's Ecological Research Laboratory. Get Issue

Review of Operation and Maintenance Workshop: Summer 2023, No. 260

Review of Operation and Maintenance Workshop

This issue highlights the work of several subject matter experts who presented at the April 2023 Review of Operation and Maintenance Workshop. Learn more about developing guidance for building inspections, the CARMA 2.0 Project, the new Recommendation Management Information System, and uncrewed aerial systems’ innovative capabilities. We are also featuring a retrospective on the 1983 Utah floods and a Q&A with Tim Brown, Chief of Civil Engineering Services Division #1 in the Technical Service Center. Get Issue

Infrastructure Programs and Projects: Spring 2023, No. 259

Infrastructure Programs and Projects

The Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Inflation Reduction Act have allocated unprecedented appropriations to the Bureau of Reclamation to help support infrastructure projects across the West. This issue highlights programs and projects that will benefit from these robust funding opportunities, including the Authorized Rural Water Projects, Water Storage Projects, Aging Infrastructure Account, B.F. Sisk Dam Safety of Dams Project, Lower Colorado River Basin System Conservation and Efficiency Program, and Salton Sea agreement. We spoke to Ryan Stewart, Operations Manager, Silt Water Conservancy District, for our Q&A. Get Issue

Concrete Testing, Placement, and Repairs: Winter 2022, No. 258

Concrete Testing, Placement, and Repairs

In this issue, Concrete and Structural Laboratory subject matter experts discuss high-capacity and complicated structural testing, cold weather concreting and tips for success, and crack mapping and concrete repair. “Water Operation Considerations Across Highly Variable Basins” examines how the Western Colorado Area Office manages a wide range of needs to fulfill its mission to deliver water. And “Water Rights Information Management System” describes the creation of the first Reclamation-owned, centralized water rights database. Finally, many thanks to Deputy Commissioner Michael Brain for participating in our Q&A. Get Issue

Reservoir Sedimentation: Fall 2022, No. 257

Reservoir Sedimentation

While all rivers carry sediments, sedimentation poses unique challenges for reliable water storage and delivery. Better understanding sedimentation, surveying sediment levels, and employing strategies to reduce sediments are essential to Reclamation’s mission. This “Reservoir Sedimentation” issue came together with the help of several sedimentation subject matter experts and contributions from staff throughout the Asset Management Division. We’re also excited to feature an overview of O&M seasonal best practices for the fall and a Q&A with Karen Knight, Director, Dam Safety and Infrastructure. Get Issue

Recreation and Transportation: Summer 2022, No. 256

Recreation and Transportation

This issue includes “Reclamation’s Recreation Program” along with “Rio Chama Trail Federal Lands Transportation Program Project” to highlight Reclamation’s big picture recreation work and a recent case study. “A Tool to Bridge the Transportation Funding Gap: Reclamation’s Long Range Transportation Plan” reviews how Reclamation’s first long range transportation plan helps connect users to recreation opportunities and safely deliver water. “Lower Yellowstone Project Weir and Fish Bypass” describes construction that allows for the improved passage of migrating pallid sturgeon. And the Q&A features Thomas Michalewicz of the Oklahoma-Texas Area Office. Get Issue

Hazardous Materials and Innovations: Spring 2022, No. 255

Hazardous Materials and Innovations

For this Hazardous Materials and Innovations issue, the Materials and Corrosion Laboratory in the Technical Service Center contributed three articles: “Flatiron Powerplant Asbestos Abatement,” “Don’t Eat the Lead Paint: Safely Inspecting, Removing, and Replacing Protective Coating Systems,” and “Used Oil: What to Do?” We are also featuring contributions from the California-Great Basin and Columbia-Pacific Northwest Regions, respectively, with “Airborne Snow Observatory: Water Supply Forecasting Moves Forward” and “Leavenworth National Fish Hatchery Pilot Circular Tank Project.” And we are honored to share a Q&A with Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Touton. Get Issue

Wildland Fire Management: Winter 2021, No. 254

Wildland Fire Management

After another busy and destructive wildfire season, we hope this issue helps explain how Reclamation protects assets from fire and ensures continued delivery of project benefits. This Bulletin features articles that describe the Wildland Fire Program, means to prepare for and mitigate wildland fire, and using GIS to address wildland fire impacts. We are also excited to share best practices for off-season maintenance, a Q&A with Reclamation’s 2020 Regional Engineer of the Year, and the latest news in O&M. Get Issue

Inspections and Improvements: Fall 2021, No. 253

Inspections and Improvements

This issue looks at inspections being done in the field and funding opportunities and procedures to improve facilities. It features articles about underwater examinations conducted by dive teams, inspection of the 10.8-mile-long Clear Creek Tunnel, and sediment and debris removal and repairs at Imperial Diversion Dam. We also highlight resources available for Reclamation partners to help support facilities and a standardized cost estimating document for projects. And please check out our Q&A, along with news on the latest in O&M. Get Issue

Routine Maintenance and Reporting Summer 2021, No. 252

Routine Maintenance and Reporting

Maximum telework has given us the opportunity to refresh perspectives about how we operate and maintain our facilities. This issue covers required major rehabilitation and replacement reporting, how the Enterprise Asset Registry will provide a centralized foundation of asset data to connect with Reclamation systems, and the importance of measuring sedimentation and monitoring canals for invasive species. We’re also excited to introduce a Q&A section to celebrate Reclamation’s outstanding people. Get Issue

Active Maintenance Fall 2019, No. 251

Constant Active Maintenance and Communication

Maintaining complex water systems is challenging, but good planning will ensure your system functions reliably and safely. Communicating, learning, and applying effective ways to maintain your system is a constant task. This bulletin covers maintenance issues such as communication, major rehabilitation and replacement data, capacity constraints, and coatings. Get Issue
Effective Planning Summer 2019, No. 250

Effective Planning

Good, strategic planning will ensure your water system is well managed and prepared to thrive in the next 50+ years. It is vital to understand the intricacies of your system, the age and condition of equipment, and potential necessary modifications to meet future demands. In this issue, we detail a few different types of plans, including an operations and maintenance management plan, standing operating procedures, sedimentation plans, and integrated pest management plans. We also highlight a hot topic for Reclamation: streamlining title transfers. Get Issue
Effective Operations Spring 2019, No. 249

Operating Effectively to Save Time and Money

Water operations typically have an annual cycle. Through each cycle, it is vital that all operations focus on safety, prevention, and efficiency. This bulletin contains helpful content for starting the system, ideas on modernizing controls, and effectively operating systems to reduce the occurrence of emergency maintenance. Get Issue
Inspect! Winter 2018, No. 248

Reclamation's Review of Operations and Maintenance Inspections

Regular inspections and examinations of Reclamation facilities are vital to ensure our facilities continue to be reliable. This issue of the Water Operations and Maintenance Bulletin covers the how and why of conducting Review of Operations and Maintenance exams, effectively writing and implementing recommendations, and addressing recurrent problems. Get Issue
Knowledge is Key: What you need to know: Fall 2018, No 247

Reclamation's Learning Opportunities

Reclamation experts provide countless presentations, articles, manuals, and other ways to share our knowledge and experiences, including training. This issue of the Water O&M Bulletin outlines some of the many training opportunities available at Reclamation. Get Issue
Science and Technology Program: Summer 2018, No 246

Science and Technology Program

We all need better, faster, cheaper solutions to the many vexing challenges in water operations and maintenance. Reclamation's Science and Technology Program helps find those solutions. Check out the many ways that Reclamation researchers can help you. In this issue, we cover: preventing leaks through concrete, surveying canals for problems, calculating returns for corrosion control, serving Reclamation data, testing wire ropes, and using unmanned aircraft systems. We are also seeking solutions for rodent burrows, internal erosion, corrosion, and leaks in large buried pipes. Get Issue
Tracking Data and Flows: Spring 2018, No 245

Tracking Data and Flows

You can't manage what you can't track. Your canal system has many moving parts from water flows to the infrastructure and equipment to deliver those flows. This issue examines the Central Arizona Project's management system and maintenance tracking to provide tips on keeping facilities and equipment ship-shape. We also look at using WinFlume and Measure H2O to track water flows. Get Issue →
Partner for Success: Winter 2017, No 244

Partnering and Budgeting for the long Term

Developing a good operation and maintenance budget to safely and reliably develop, manage, and deliver water is key to your success. This issue focuses on budgets and financial assistance for operating entities. We share some partnering avenues and success stories: from Federal Highway Administration assistance to Reclamation's WaterSMART programs and even research opportunities. This issue features two infographics to help you ensure a healthy operating budget and succeed with financial assistance projects. Get Issue
Innovate! Fall 2017, No 243

Deflect debris, Fill voids, Inspect underwater, Use rubber for dams, Watch for new developments

Just looking at a situation from a different angle can help you discover new ways of solving vexing problems--or uncover potential new problems that you can address before they become huge. In this issue, we look at a clever way to deflect debris from intake pipes, using CLSM to fill voids, underwater inspections, replacing expensive coffer dams with a reusable rubber dam. The back cover poster warns everyone to watch out for potential new developments that might impact canals. Get Issue →
Sharing Information: Summer 2017, No 242

Training, SCADA, Concrete, Testing, Water Data, Good Neighbor brochure

What do you want to know? This issue covers Reclamation’s new canal operation and maintenance training and manuals. We also have an in-depth look at developing the best SCADA technology for your district, and we highlight Reclamation’s concrete testing. You can get water data from Reclamation’s new system and even print out a brochure to help educate your neighbors about the dangers of building too close to the canals. The back cover poster reminds you about Job Hazard Analysis: Look before you work! Get Issue →
Lessons Learned! Spring 2017, No 241

Avoiding and Handling Canal and Pipe Failures

Canal and pipe breaches are very expensive lessons, so read this issue to learn at someone else’s expense. We examine a canal failure from improper construction, a storm that dumped sediment into a canal, a pipe break right at the beginning of irrigation season, and an urban canal breach. Learn how to prepare for emergencies, act during emergencies, and repair afterwards. Print out the back cover poster to remember what to do in case of a breach. Get Issue →
Keep Repairing! Winter 2016, No. 240

Aquatic Weeds, Concrete Cracks, Gates, Grout

Welcome to our new look! We are revamping the Water O&M Manuals and updating our Bulletin traditions that stretch back to 1952. In this issue, we cover fixes for aquatic weeds and concrete cracks, how to select the best grout for your particular job, and how to regularly test your gates. The back cover poster lists contacts and general steps for using herbicides. Get Issue →