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The Bureau of Reclamation 

 New Directions in Uater Management and Conservation 



The purpose of this summary report is to provide an overview of the ongoing 

 water management and conservation program activities of the U.S. Bureau of 

 Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region. It also serves as an update to the 

 January 1990 report. 



Introduction 



The Reclamation Act of 1902 authorized the formation of the U.S. Reclamation 



Service. It's purpose was to reclaim the arid lands of the West through 



irrigation and to stimulate the settlement and economic development of the 



region. The Reclamation Service was renamed the Bureau of Reclamation 

 (Reclamation) in 1923. 



As irrigation opened the way to agricultural prosperity, the West grew in 

 population and economic stability. What were once desert lands are today some 

 of the most productive agricultural areas and urban centers in the world. 

 Reclamation's multi-purpose projects provide dependable water supplies for 

 agricultural, municipal, industrial, and domestic users. Project powerplants 

 produce clean, renewable hydroelectric energy. These projects also provide 

 flood control, recreation, water quality, and fish and wildlife benefits for 

 the public. The success of the Reclamation program has resulted in benefits 

 to regional and national economies that will continue long into the future. 



In recent years, however, environmental concerns, budget constraints, and a 

 decreasing demand for new irrigation development are changing Reclamation's 

 primary role as developer of large, federally-financed agricultural projects. 

 The original goal has been attained--the arid West essentially has been 

 reclaimed. New development of major agricultural water and power projects is 

 increasingly difficult to justify from economic and environmental 

 perspectives. 



In October 1987. Reclamation began to shift its program emphasis from water 

 resources development to water resources management. Reclamation's overall 

 mission continues to be to manage, develop, and protect water and related land 

 resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest 

 of the American people. However, in order to meet the growing water demands 

 and resource management needs of the West, Reclamation is looking first to new 

 and innovative opportunities for effective, efficient management and 

 conservation of our existing water resources. 



The establishment of Regional Water Conservation Centers as focal points for 

 conservation program activity was identified as a key element of Reclamation's 

 recently developed Strategic Plan . These centers will be used to help 

 coordinate and highlight Reclamation's role in the sound management of the 

 Nation's water resources. 



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