The Bureau of Reclamation has played a big role in delivering water and generating power in the West in the last 115 years. On June 17, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Reclamation Act creating the United States Reclamation Service. Since then, Reclamation has built more than 600 dams, canals and reservoirs including Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and Grand Coulee on the Columbia River. These water projects led to homesteading and promoted the economic development of the West.
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Parker Dam

March 23, 2018

The Bureau of Reclamation has played a big role in delivering water and generating power in the West in the last 115 years. On June 17, 1902, President Theodore Roosevelt signed the Reclamation Act creating the United States Reclamation Service.

Since then, Reclamation has built more than 600 dams, canals and reservoirs including Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and Grand Coulee on the Columbia River. These water projects led to homesteading and promoted the economic development of the West.

Reclamation is now the largest wholesale water supplier and the second largest producer of hydropower in the United States, its 53 power plants annually provide more than 40 billion kilowatt hours generating nearly a billion dollars in power revenues and produce enough electricity to serve 3.5 million homes.

Today Reclamation is a contemporary water management agency with numerous programs, initiatives and activities that will help the Western United States, Native American tribes and others meet new water needs and balance the multitude of competing uses of water in the West. These activities provide $48.05 billion in total economic contribution that supports more than 387,000 jobs.

We place great emphasis on fulfilling our water delivery obligations, water conservation, water recycling and reuse, and developing partnerships with our customers, states, and Native American tribes, and in finding ways to bring together the variety of interests to address the competing needs for limited water.

To learn more about Reclamation please visit www.usbr.gov.

Recent News

An irrigation control structure on a canal.
The Bureau of Reclamation has released three funding opportunities for fiscal year 2018, Water and Energy Efficiency Grants, Small-Scale Water Efficiency Projects and Water Marketing Strategy Grants, all of which are part of the Department of the Interior’s WaterSMART program initiative. Learn More →

Alcova Dam
The March forecast for the North Platte River Basin indicates the spring snowmelt runoff will be below average. Total April through July runoff above Glendo Dam is expected to be 715,000 acre-feet, which is 78 percent of the 30-year average. Learn More →

Boise Diversion Dam
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation are increasing flows through town from approximately 240 to 1,750 cubic-feet-per-second, beginning March 21, 2018. The flow through town will be increased 500 cubic-feet-per-second each day over three days starting on March 21, 2018, and ending on March 23, 2018. This increase in flows is due the current snowpack in the basin as well as good reservoir carryover from the 2017 season. Learn More →

Shasta Powerplant
The Bureau of Reclamation has extended the public comment period on the draft directive and standard that defines the eligible uses and recipients of project use power and related cost recovery and rate setting methodology. Comments are due by April 11, 2018. Learn More →

Mario Manzo
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Mid-Pacific Region announced today Mario Manzo is the new Deputy Manager for the Mid-Pacific Region’s Bay Delta Office. Learn More →

Cynthia Davenport
The Bureau of Reclamation’s Central California Area Office has selected Cynthia Davenport as the New Melones Lake Park Manager. Davenport will be responsible for the daily operation and maintenance of the recreation resources at New Melones Lake in Sonora, California. New Melones Lake offers boat launching, camping, fishing, hiking, biking, horseback riding, and many more outdoor recreation opportunities. Learn More →

Bureau of Reclamation

A video describing the leaky pipes prize competition

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public.

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Bureau of Reclamation
1849 C Street NW
Washington DC 20240-0001

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