Department of the Interior
Departmental Manual
Effective Date: October 4, 1996
Series: Organization
Part 155: Bureau of Reclamation
Chapter 1: Creation, Objectives, and Functions
Originating Office: Bureau of Reclamation
155 DM 1
1.1 Creation. The Reclamation Act (43 U.S.C. 391 et seq.), approved on June 17, 1902, authorized the Secretary of the Interior to locate, construct, operate, and maintain works for the storage, diversion, and development of water for the reclamation of arid and semi-arid lands in the Western States. To perform these functions, the Secretary in July 1902 approved an organization plan for a Reclamation Service in the Geological Survey. In March 1907, the Reclamation Service was removed from the Survey and established under a Director. In June 1923, the Secretary created the position of Commissioner of Reclamation and changed the name Reclamation Service to Bureau of Reclamation. By Secretarial Order No. 3042, dated November 6, 1979, the name was changed to Water and Power Resources Service to reflect changes in mission. The name Bureau of Reclamation was restored by Secretarial Order No. 3064, dated May 18, 1981, due to public preference. The authority of the Commissioner of Reclamation, delegated by the program Assistant Secretary, is set forth in Part 255 of the Departmental Manual. The authority of subordinate officers and employees of Reclamation, redelegated by the Commissioner, is set forth in the Reclamation Instructions.
1.2 Objectives. The mission of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. To accomplish this, Reclamation directly or through assistance to others, applies management, engineering, and scientific skills to achieve comprehensive solutions to water and related resources issues and problems. This requires close cooperation with the States, local governments, and other Federal agencies throughout the 17 contiguous Western States, Hawaii, and the U.S. Territories of American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, and nationwide, where authorized, by enabling legislation or delegation. Reclamation projects provide for some or all of the following concurrent purposes: irrigation water service, municipal and industrial water supply, hydroelectric power generation, water quality protection and improvement, wetlands management and enhancement, river and ground water basin management, fish and wildlife enhancement, outdoor recreation, flood control, navigation, river regulation and control, system optimization, and related uses. Through contractual agreements with project beneficiaries, Reclamation arranges for repayment to the Government of reimbursable costs incurred in the construction and operation of water resource projects.
1.3 Functions. The major functions of Reclamation are as follows:
A. Managing and maintaining existing resources and facilities, including the rehabilitation and betterment of existing projects, and review of the operation and maintenance of Reclamation-built projects and facilities which are operated and maintained by water users;
B. Meeting future resource needs through the investigation and development of plans including basin-wide water resource studies for the management, regulation, conservation, and utilization of water, hydroelectric power, and related land resources;
C. Developing alternative means of supplying water through modification of existing projects, improved system management and optimization, joint use of surface and ground water supplies, and reevaluating priority of use;
D. Maintaining an ongoing program to enhance water conservation through water conservation and advisory centers that coordinate water conservation programs, provide information on water supplies and conservation opportunities, provide technical assistance and technology transfer, and promote public education;
E. Designing and constructing authorized projects for which funds have been appropriated by Congress;
F. Administering water research programs, both mission-oriented research and basic research national in scope, to develop optimum use of resources and contribute to meeting the Nation's present and projected water supply and quality requirements;
G. Providing environmental benefits through the conservation (i.e., protection, restoration, creation, and maintenance) and enhancement of fish and wildlife resources and habitats, including wetlands and water quality.
H. Negotiating, executing, and administering repayment contracts, water service contracts, water-user operation and maintenance contracts, and land disposal contracts required by acreage limitation statutes relating to irrigation with project water;
I. Developing, managing, and protecting water resources through financial, technical, and operational partnerships with other Federal and non-Federal entities;
J. Managing public or acquired lands on Reclamation projects;
K. Administering youth conservation programs, as assigned;
L. Providing technical assistance to foreign countries related to water resources development and utilization in cooperation with the Agency for International Development, the Department of State, and other agencies engaged in international technical cooperation; to the extent that funds are available for that specific purpose;
M. Providing engineering, scientific, and technical assistance to Department of the Interior bureaus; other Federal, state, and local Government agencies; and Indian tribes; and
N. Providing selected administrative services to Department of the Interior bureaus and other Government agencies.
10/4/96 #3086
Replaces 8/18/92 #2953