BUREAU OF RECLAMATION 

 WETLANDS PRESERVATION AND ENHANCEMENT INITIATIVE 



Background 



In October 1987, the Bureau of Reclamation announced a 

 redirection of the agency's mission from one of water resource 

 development to that of water resources management and stewardship. 

 Accordingly, the agency is currently in transition from its 

 traditional role of planning and constructing major water projects to 

 focusing on rehabilitation and modernization of existing facilities 

 and concentrating on total resource management including water 

 conservation, groundwater recharge, and providing engineering 

 expertise to other Federal programs. 



Wetland Program Structure 



In fiscal year 1991, the Bureau of Reclamation initiated a 5- 

 year, multimillion dollar wetlands program which will emphasize three 

 major elements; and inventory of wetlands and deep water habitats, 

 construction of projects which support the goals and objectives of the 

 North American Waterfowl Management Plan, and research and 

 demonstration projects. Some specific activities currently underway 

 include: 



A. Wetlands Inventory . The Bureau of Reclamation has entered 

 into a cost sharing arrangement with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service's National Wetlands Inventory to develop wetland maps for 

 Bureau of Reclamation lands throughout the 17 Western States. Mapping 

 efforts began in fiscal year 1990 and should be completed in fiscal 

 year 1993. 



B. Activity Integration and Coordination . The Bureau of 

 Reclamation is integrating its wetland activities across all 

 traditional agency programs (planning, operations and maintenance, 

 construction, loans) and activities as well as pursuing cooperative 

 efforts with other Federal and state agencies, water users, and 

 special interest groups. 



C. Research and Development . The agency's wetland research and 

 development activities are currently focused at the local, individual 

 wetland level. Studies have been initiated to assess wetland 

 functioning and cause-and-ef feet mechanisms. Demonstration projects 

 are being initiated in southern California and Arizona to determine 

 how best to integrate constructed wetlands with conventional 

 wastewater treatment facilities to achieve total integrated water 

 resource management in arid climates. 



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