Reclamation Invests in Science and Technology Development Research Projects to Address Water and Power Challenges

The ability to deliver water and generate power from Bureau of Reclamation facilities is becoming more challenging and complex. To ensure a sustainable and reliable supply of water for irrigation, municipal, hydropower generation and other uses, Reclamation is investing $9.17 million for 157 science and technology development projects across Reclamation.

"For more than 100 years, Reclamation and its partners have developed the tools to guide a sustainable water and power for the future of the Western United States," Reclamation Commissioner Estevan López said. "By leveraging our funding and expertise with other entities, we can apply innovative solutions to Reclamation facilities that will benefit our customers, stakeholders and the public."

Research proposals were sought in nine subject areas:

  • water operations and support
  • environmental issues in water delivery and management
  • conserving and expanding water supplies
  • advanced water treatment
  • climate change and variability
  • sustainable water infrastructure and safety
  • renewable energy and energy conservation
  • invasive zebra and quagga mussels
  • open water data

Research projects are identified using solicited research and brokered research. In solicited research, Reclamation hosts an internal competition where employees propose their research ideas. Once received, the proposals are reviewed and ranked according to Reclamation’s mission and technical validity. Through the second methodology, brokered research, the Research and Development Office identifies specialized research teams from a mix of federal and nonfederal experts and organizations to solve Reclamation’s high priority issues and needs.

An example of solicited research is the study, "Development and Commercialization of Chlorine Resistant Membranes." Chlorine is one of the most effective pretreatment strategies of water, but chlorine will oxidize the filtration membranes, reducing their effectiveness, so the water must be dechlorinated before membrane treatment, adding an additional step to the treatment process. The development of membranes that are resistant to chlorine will reduce the steps and costs associated with treating water, make alternative water treatment technologies more affordable, and expand Reclamation’s capabilities to expand water supplies through treatment of various non-traditional sources including inland brackish groundwater, seawater, municipal wastewater and produced waters.

An example of brokered research is occurring under a new cooperative agreement with the University of California, San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography, where researchers will study the "Seasonal and Extended-range Predictability of Atmospheric Rivers and their associated Precipitation." Atmospheric rivers, which are narrow regions in the atmosphere that are responsible for most of the horizontal transport of water vapor outside of the tropics, are an important source for water supplies in the Western United States. In California, just a few atmospheric river events each year contribute a significant percentage of the total annual precipitation a watershed may receive. A better understanding of the seasonal predictability of atmospheric river activity will support improved water supply forecasts and management for local and regional water resources managers.

When developing proposals, Reclamation employees are invited to partner with their coworkers and other organizations to develop more robust and comprehensive research projects. Through these partnership collaborations, Reclamation's Research Office was able to leverage its $9.17 million with $9.14 million from other Reclamation, federal, and nonfederal sources for a total investment of $18.3 million in research projects to manage water and generate hydropower.

To see a complete list of selected projects or to learn more about Reclamation's Research Program, please visit www.usbr.gov/research.

Published on October 08, 2015

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Selected Projects