Bureau of Reclamation Banner

Research Program

Why does Reclamation conduct research?

Throughout the 17 Western states, Reclamation operates 348 reservoirs and 58 hydroelectric plants, making it the nation’s largest wholesale water supplier and the 5th largest electric utility in the West. Reclamation conducts research to develop and deploy successful solutions for better water and power management--not to merely publish. Research is a vital paradigm for Reclamation, as Reclamation promotes rapid deployment of new innovations to benefit Reclamation's water and power operations.

What are Reclamation's research programs?

The Research and Development Office manages two research programs that provide advanced solutions to a broad range of water and power management issues:

The research results serve to improve Reclamation water management practices, increase water supply, and ensure cost-effective power generation operations to the benefit of stakeholders.

Most of Reclamation’s in-house research is conducted by scientists and engineers at the laboratories of the Technical Service Center (TSC) at the Federal Center in Denver, Colorado, the Water Quality Improvement Center (WQIC) in Yuma, Arizona, and at numerous field facilities.

What research does Reclamation conduct?

Reclamation conducts and sponsors research in four mission-related focus areas:

Reclamation conducts a broad scope of research with innovations ranging from a special diet for insects bred to eat noxious weeds to improved methods for concrete repair.