The new year is well on its way, and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Bureau of Reclamation’s new newsletter. This is not only a way for us to communicate with you – our valued customers and stakeholders – but it is also a way to highlight the efforts and achievements of Reclamation staff. I am both excited and honored to make 2018 our best year ever, and I know it’s possible because of all the talented and hardworking people who are part of the Reclamation team.
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Shasta Dam

February 23, 2018

The new year is well on its way, and I’d like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the Bureau of Reclamation’s new newsletter. This is not only a way for us to communicate with you – our valued customers and stakeholders – but it is also a way to highlight the efforts and achievements of Reclamation staff. I am both excited and honored to make 2018 our best year ever, and I know it’s possible because of all the talented and hardworking people who are part of the Reclamation team.

It is a pleasure to work with our customers, partners and stakeholders to address important issues and challenges at the forefront of our agenda. We sincerely appreciate your feedback about our continued efforts and commitments toward ensuring water reliability, reinvesting in our infrastructure, formulating innovative financial strategies, streamlining our efforts to improve efficiency, and finally, how to do all of this while ensuring a culture of safety and respect.

In recent news, Reclamation convened a policy review group – a broad, multidisciplinary team of senior leaders and program specialists to perform a comprehensive review of Reclamation’s policy process. Based on this effort, Reclamation is working to improve how we develop and review our policies and directives.

In addition to our work to improve the policy review process, Reclamation recently released the Fiscal Year 2019 budget for Reclamation, in which the President proposed $1.049 billion for Reclamation. More information is available at https://www.usbr.gov/budget.

In the last few weeks, Reclamation announced the preparation of an EIS analyzing potential modifications during the long-term operations of the Central Valley Project and the State Water Project.

We welcome the participation of our stakeholders throughout this process to determine the best strategies for maximizing water deliveries and power generation in light of the WIIN Act and current conditions of endangered and threatened fish populations.

Continuing on the track of collaboration, Reclamation has prepared legislation for title transfers to send to Congress for consideration. This bill intends to authorize the establishment of a title transfer program from within the Department of the Interior, to be managed by Reclamation. It would examine the public benefits of transferring portions of Reclamation projects and lands out of federal ownership, and would provide a predictable and efficient path toward title transfer. Additionally, the proposed legislation would authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey all rights, title and interest in any eligible facility.

As the largest water provider in the West, all of us here at Reclamation have a significant duty to ensure water reliability while bringing parties together. I am confident in the strength, expertise and tenacity of this organization, and I know that together, we can address the challenges of today, and for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Brenda Burman
Commissioner

Recent News

Shasta Dam
The Bureau of Reclamation announced the initial 2018 water supply allocation for many Central Valley Project contractors. This allocation is based on a conservative estimate of the amount of water that will be available for delivery to CVP water users and reflects current reservoir storages, precipitation and snow pack in the Central Valley and Sierra Nevada. Learn More →

Trinity River with boat in the foreground.
The Trinity River Restoration Program recently completed a major restoration project at Deep Gulch and Sheridan Creek channel near Junction City, about 6 miles west of Weaverville, California. The two-year project was one of the largest channel rehabilitation efforts undertaken by the program with over 125,000 cubic yards of material moved. Learn More →

Elephant Butte Dam in New Mexico
Water movement on the Rio Grande Project is set to begin next week in preparation for the upcoming irrigation season. The Bureau of Reclamation began releases from Elephant Butte Dam at 8 a.m. on Friday, February 23, to move water to Caballo Reservoir. The release will quickly ramp up to 600 cubic feet per second. Learn More →

San Joaquin River Restoration Program staff check a rotary screw trap for newly emerged spring-run Chinook salmon
Spring-run Chinook salmon have successfully spawned in the San Joaquin River for the first time in over 60 years due to a multi-agency effort by the San Joaquin River Restoration Program. Learn More →

G23 Turbine Replacement at Grand Coulee Dam

A timelapse of the turbine runner installation for Unit G23 at Grand Coulee Dam's Third Power Plant in Washington

A timelapse of the turbine runner installation for Unit G23 at Grand Coulee Dam's Third Power Plant in Washington. This installation took place on February 6, 2018, as part of the Third Power Plant Overhaul.

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

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