Reclamation has had a significant impact on the landscape of the American West. However, it is not widely known that Reclamation has also left a sizeable imprint internationally and is known worldwide for its expertise in dam safety, dam construction, water resources management, desalination, and sedimentation. Reclamation has also played a pivotal role in helping others to establish governmental water agencies so that they could develop and better manage their water resources.
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Attendees at the 2018 SEED Seminar pose for a group photo in front of the 5 million pound testing machine.

The Current
Reclamation's Biweekly Newsletter

July 27, 2018

Reclamation has had a significant impact on the landscape of the American West. However, it is not widely known that Reclamation has also left a sizeable imprint internationally and is known worldwide for its expertise in dam safety, dam construction, water resources management, desalination, and sedimentation. Reclamation has also played a pivotal role in helping others to establish governmental water agencies so that they could develop and better manage their water resources.

Reclamation provides reimbursable technical assistance, training, seminars/workshops, visitor programs, and technology exchange to foreign governments and international organizations through authority delegated by the U.S. Department of State.

Technical assistance: Technical assistance programs typically entail the assignment of Reclamation experts overseas on a short-term basis. Each program is designed to address the specific needs of the requesting agency and all costs are fully reimbursable.

Technical Training and Visitors: Reclamation provides reimbursable technical training and technical visitors' programs for foreign visitors. Training programs are tailored to fit each request and vary in length from two days to one-year, usually combining office assignments and field visits or study tours to Reclamation's Denver, regional, and area offices.

Technical Cooperation and Technology Exchange: Reclamation periodically seeks to improve the technical capabilities of its personnel by participating in formal cooperative science and technology exchange programs with other countries, and more often through informal activities, such as attendance by Reclamation employees at various meetings, conferences and other forums. These activities are generally non-reimbursable.

Reclamation’s International Affairs Program, with staff in both Denver and Washington, D.C., serves as the point of contact for all international activities and serves as a liaison between foreign and international entities and Reclamations’ technical and subject matter experts. The program’s staff receives and reviews incoming requests, helps develop well-defined and manageable scopes of work, identifies available experts, works with other U.S. federal agencies to obtain clearances, and ensures other requirements are met for foreign delegations to visit the United States or for U.S. personnel to travel abroad. Throughout the years, Reclamation has worked in more than 70 countries, trained more than 6,000 professional staff from approximately 100 countries and welcomed more than 20,000 visitors from nearly every country in the world.

Most recently, The International Affairs office welcomed 31 participants from 10 countries to the 29th Safety Evaluation of Existing Dams International Technical Seminar and Study Tour.

The technical session, June 4-7 took place in Denver, Colorado, and consisted of classroom presentations and discussions. On June 8, participants traveled to Pueblo, Colorado, where Reclamation staff led participants in an abbreviated simulated dam examination. The post session study tour June 9-11 included site visits to Lewiston Dam, Trinity Dam, Keswick Dam and Shasta Dam in California.

Learn more at www.usbr.gov/international.

Recent News

Shasta Dam with Mount Shasta in the Background.
The Bureau of Reclamation premiered its new feature film Shasta Dam - California’s Empire Builder on Saturday, July 21, 2018 in Redding, California. Built during the Great Depression and World War II, the construction of Shasta Dam is the story of hard work, engineering and a can-do spirit that changed California forever. Learn More →

The Green River by Jensen, Utah.
Reclamation released a final Environmental Assessment and Finding of No Significant Impact (EA/FONSI) regarding construction of a fish screen on the Green River Canal located near Green River, Utah. Under the direction and legislative authority of the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, Reclamation will provide funding for construction of the fish screen facilities. Learn More →

A nice catch at the 2018 C.A.S.T. for Kids Event held at the Burley Boat Docks.
Reclamation hosted a C.A.S.T. for Kids event on Saturday, July 21 at the Burley Boat Docks in Rupert, Idaho. In total, 22 children participated in the day’s activities -- one of whom had never caught a fish until this event. There were 13 people who volunteered their time and boats, and shared their knowledge and passion for fishing with the children. Additionally, eight Reclamation employees volunteered their time at this event. Learn More →

Aerial photo of Monticello Dam and Lake Berryessa.
Visitors at Lake Berryessa can look forward to improved recreation facilities thanks to a new fee program. The Bureau of Reclamation will begin collecting fees at Lake Berryessa in 2019. Most of the fees collected will be used locally at Lake Berryessa for operations, maintenance and improved facilities and the rest will be used to support regional recreation programs.Learn More →

International

A link to a video describing the Pathogens Prize Competition.

The Bureau of Reclamation's Materials and Engineering Research Laboratory is sharing its knowledge, experience and capability in evaluating material from large dams. There really isn't anywhere else in the world that can provide these services. Since its inception, Reclamation has been active internationally. It has long made available its expertise in water resources through specially designed reimbursable technical assistance and training programs. Programs may entail the assignment of Reclamation experts overseas on long-term details (usually two years), on a short-term basis, or a combination of both. Each technical assistance program is designed to address the specific needs of the requesting agency, and technology transfer and capacity building are routinely integrated into each program. All costs associated with technical assistance programs are fully reimbursable to Reclamation. To learn more please visit: https://www.usbr.gov/international/tech.html.

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