Commissioner's Offce News Releases

Reclamation Lease of Power Privilege Process Requirements Finalized

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation has finalized the Lease of Power Privilege (LOPP) Processes, Responsibilities, Timelines and Charges Directive and Standard. It defines the LOPP process and how Reclamation will enhance working relationships with its project partners.

"Through these leases, Reclamation is able to work with non-federal entities and project beneficiaries to increase the amount of renewable hydropower produced in meeting the growing energy needs of the nation," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor. "This directive and standard provides a clear and understandable process to develop hydropower on Reclamation's dams and canals."

The directive and standard provides clear guidance and timelines on LOPP requirements, assigns roles and responsibilities within the organization for LOPP development, sets a standard methodology across Reclamation for the LOPP charges and identifies all potential charges for developers.

A LOPP is used when Reclamation chooses to lease its right to develop power at one of its facilities when that power development doesn't interfere with other authorized project purposes.

The directive and standard (FAC 04-08) can be viewed at http://on.doi.gov/SrhRrW.

Bruce C. Muller, Jr. Named as Design, Estimating and Construction Oversight and Dam Safety Officer

WASHINGTON – Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor has named Bruce C. Muller, Jr. as the Senior Advisor - Design, Estimating and Construction Oversight and Dam Safety Officer.

"Having an internal, independent oversight of construction and dam safety projects at all levels is important to ensure these projects are consistent throughout Reclamation and to make sure that Reclamation and its partners are getting the best value for our investments," said Commissioner Connor. "Bruce brings the necessary engineering and management experience to this position that it needs to ensure the consistency of projects throughout Reclamation."

This position provides oversight of design, estimating and construction activities as they are being formulated and prepared to ensure that executive-level management decisions and products are sound at the project and corporate levels. Muller will also serve as Reclamation's Dam Safety Officer where he will provide broad program guidance, conduct reviews and perform quality assurance of Reclamation's Dam Safety Program.

Muller joined Reclamation in 1979 as a civil engineer after earning his Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from Purdue University. For the next 20 years, Muller worked as a design engineer and project manager, designing new dams and modifications to existing dams, developing methodologies and guidelines to facilitate risk management and implementing new technologies for dam analysis and design, while also earning his Master of Science in Civil Engineering/Water Resource Management from Colorado State University and graduating from the Department of the Interior’s Senior Executive Service Candidate Development Program.

In addition to the accomplishments earlier in his career, Muller has served Reclamation as the Chief of the Dam Safety Office, Deputy Director for Security, Safety and Law Enforcement and Reclamation's Assistant Director Information Resources working closely with the Department of the Interior in its Information Technology Transformation Project.

Terry Fulp Named Regional Director for Reclamation’s Lower Colorado Region

WASHINGTON – Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor today announced Terry Fulp has been selected Lower Colorado Regional Director. Fulp has served as Lower Colorado Deputy Regional Director since March 2008.

"Terry Fulp has the depth of knowledge and breadth of experience with the complex and challenging issues involved on the Colorado River to be an effective leader of this major Reclamation region," Commissioner Connor said today. "The collaborative relationships he has built during his tenure as Deputy Regional Director have prepared him to step into the responsibilities of this position."

Fulp began his Reclamation career in 1989 and has served his entire tenure in the Lower Colorado Region. During that time, he has been actively involved in Colorado River operations and management issues, working closely with other federal and state agencies and stakeholders. He served as Area Manager of the Boulder Canyon Operations Office, where he led the successful basin-wide effort to develop additional operational guidelines for Lake Powell and Lake Mead to address the impacts of long-term drought in the basin.

Fulp holds a doctorate in mathematical and computer sciences from the Colorado School of Mines, two master’s degrees, one in civil engineering from the University of Colorado and one in geophysics from Stanford University and a bachelor’s in earth sciences from the University of Tulsa.

Fulp has received numerous awards during his career, including the Department of the Interior’s Superior Service Award. In 2005, he was awarded the Virgil M. Kauffman Gold Medal from the Society of Exploration Geophysicists for his outstanding contribution to the advancement of geophysical exploration.

As Regional Director, Fulp will oversee all Reclamation operations in southern Nevada, southern California, most of Arizona and portions of Utah and New Mexico. On behalf of the Secretary of the Interior, the Lower Colorado Region serves as Water Master of the 700 miles of lower Colorado River from a point below Lees Ferry in northern Arizona to the Mexican border. The region also oversees the operation and management of Hoover, Davis and Parker Dams in addition to numerous other facilities.

Reclamation Selects Eight Entities to Receive $333,500

WASHINGTON - Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor announced today the selection of eight entities to receive $333,500 in grants under the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program. These grants will aid in the establishment and expansion of local watershed management groups.

"Developing and supporting local watershed management groups ensures local communities are involved in decisions and is vital to create healthy watersheds," said Commissioner Connor. "This funding will enable local communities to partner with Reclamation to conserve water in the West and will help Reclamation advance the goals of WaterSMART and the National Blueways System."

The eight entities recommended for funding are:

Armand Bayou Nature Center in Texas ($22,000)
Colorado Watershed Assembly in Colorado ($42,000)
Crooked River Watershed Council in Oregon ($39,500)
Deschutes River Conservancy in Oregon ($50,000)
Ojai Valley Land Conservancy in California ($50,000)
Spanish Peaks/Purgatoire River Conservation District in Colorado ($50,000)
Sun River Watershed in Montana ($30,000)
Upper Verde River Watershed Protection Coalition in Arizona ($50,000)

One of the selected entities is the Ojai Valley Land Conservancy in California, a 25-year-old nonprofit organization. It proposes a two year project to expand the watershed group, assess watershed issues and develop a management plan to promote sustainable use. Its proposal includes increasing outreach efforts and the expansion of its website and videos, to be available in English and Spanish.

A complete description of all projects is available at: www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/cwmp/.

Each award is limited to $50,000, although a second year of funding, up to $50,000, may be awarded to successful applicants if sufficient progress is demonstrated and funding is available. No cost-share was required.

The purpose of the Cooperative Watershed Management Program is to improve water quality and ecological resilience and to reduce conflicts over water through collaborative conservation efforts in the management of local watersheds. Its primary goal is to address two major concerns synonymous with watershed groups—1) the need for funding to pay the salary of a full-time coordinator and 2) the limited funding available for project management. The Cooperative Watershed Management Program provides financial incentives to mitigate these concerns and to encourage diverse stakeholders to continue to work together.

The Cooperative Watershed Management Program also supports Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar's National Blueways System. The National Blueways System highlights and supports river and watershed strategies for sustainable watershed resources that are led by stakeholder communities and organizations.

WaterSMART is a program of the U.S. Department of the Interior that focuses on improving water conservation and sustainability and helping water resource managers make sound decisions about water use. It identifies strategies to ensure this and future generations will have sufficient supplies of clean water for drinking, economic activities, recreation and ecosystem health. The program also identifies adaptive measures to address climate change and its impact on future water demands. The SMART in WaterSMART stands for "Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow."

For more information on the WaterSMART program, visit www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/.

Silicone Foul Release Coatings Show Most Promise at Managing Quagga and Zebra Mussels at Water and Hydropower Facilities

DENVER - The Bureau of Reclamation has found that silicone foul release coatings may be an important tool for mitigating invasive quagga and zebra mussels' impacts to water and hydropower infrastructure. Allen D. Skaja, Ph.D., PCS, of Reclamation's Technical Service Center tested more than 50 coatings and metal alloys over three years at Parker Dam on the Colorado River.

"The silicone foul release coatings were found to reduce the rate of mussel settlement, and any attached mussels were easy to remove," said Skaja. "In many cases, it was found water flowing at 0.1 feet per second provided sufficient force to remove mussel colonies."

Parker Dam provided an excellent field test site to evaluate coatings in still and flowing water because the quagga and zebra mussels infesting this location reproduce throughout the year and have a high growth rate.

The coatings and metal alloys tested can be divided into six broad categories: conventional epoxies (no fouling control), foul release coatings, antifouling coatings, fluorinated powdered coatings, metallic coatings and metal alloys. The coatings were tested in still water and flowing water. For still water, three, 1-foot-square steel plates were tied on a nylon rope and lowered into water approximately 50 feet deep near the face of the dam. For the flowing conditions, one 18-inch by 24-inch coated floor grate with 1-inch spacing was suspended 40 feet below the water surface downstream from the forebay trashrack structure.

One problem with silicone foul release coatings is they are not that durable. Initial research found the silicone foul release coatings were soft and were easily damaged by floating debris or mechanical abrasion, such as a trash rack being cleaned. Further research is already underway to find a silicone foul release technology that will meet the abuse coatings on facilities must take.

The research was funded by Reclamation's Research and Development Office where research is conducted to develop and deploy successful solutions to improve water management practices, increase water supply and ensure cost-effective power generation operations.

To view the report, please visit Reclamation's Quagga and Zebra Mussel Website.

Research Projects to Boost Science Receive $1.7 Million in WaterSMART Funding for Desert and Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperatives

WASHINGTON - Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor announced today 12 applied science projects will receive $1.2 million, and Reclamation will partner with other federal agencies and contribute $451,835 to applied science projects to benefit the Desert and Southern Rockies Landscape Conservation Cooperatives. This funding will be matched to provide more than $3.5 million for these applied science projects.

"Landscape Conservation Cooperatives bring science and technical expertise together and develop applied science tools for land managers to assess and adapt to the impacts of climate change," Connor said today. "The projects we are funding will help resource managers as they strive to develop effective water management solutions."

Twelve projects received grants to meet the science needs of the LCCs. The entity must provide at least a 50-percent cost-share. The entities that will receive funding are:

Alamosa Land Institute
Arizona Game and Fish Department (2)
Arizona State University (2)
Colorado State University
Desert Botanical Garden, Inc.
New Mexico Office of the State Engineer
Northern Arizona University
The Nature Conservancy (2)
University of Arizona

In addition, Reclamation solicited statements of interest from other federal agencies for partnership on science projects in the LCCs. Seven projects were identified to receive funding. The federal agencies partnering with Reclamation are:

U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station (4)
U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center
U.S. Geological Survey, Southwest Biological Science Center (2)

LCCs are partnerships of governmental (federal, state, tribal and local) and non-governmental entities. The primary goal of the LCCs is to bring together science and resource management to inform adaptation strategies to address climate change and other stressors within an ecological region defined as a landscape.

The Desert LCC encompasses portions of five states: Arizona, California, Nevada, New Mexico and Texas, as well as a substantial portion of Northern Mexico. The area is topographically complex, including three different deserts (Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan), grasslands and valley bottoms, and the isolated mountain ranges in the southern portion of the LCC (Apache Highlands and the New Mexico-Texas Highlands, also known as the Sky Islands). There are several large river systems, including the lower Colorado, Gila, Rio Grande, San Pedro and Verde. To learn more about the Desert LCC, please visit www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/LCC/desert.html.

The Southern Rockies LCC encompasses large portions of four states: Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah, as well as smaller parts of Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming. The area is geographically complex, including wide elevation and topographic variation; from 14,000 foot peaks to the Grand Canyon and cold desert basins. This topographically complex region includes the headwaters of the Colorado River and Rio Grande, the Wasatch and Uinta Mountains to the west, and the Southern Rocky Mountains to the east, separated by the rugged tableland of the Colorado Plateau. To learn more about the Southern Rockies LCC, please visit www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/LCC/south.html.

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar established the WaterSMART program in February 2010 – the SMART in WaterSMART stands for "Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow" – in cooperation with Commissioner Connor, Deputy Secretary David J. Hayes and Assistant Secretary for Water and Science Anne Castle. Funding for WaterSMART is focused on improving water conservation and helping water and resource managers make wise decisions about water use.

To learn more about WaterSMART, please visit www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART.

Complete descriptions of the projects selected are available at: www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/lcc/.

Scientists to Share Effects of Elwha Dam Removal at Free Public Events, Streamed Live Online

Port Angeles, Wash. - Restoration of the Elwha River, including the Nation's largest dam removal to date, is the backdrop for the second Elwha River Science Symposium, scheduled for August 20 through 24 at the campuses of Peninsula College and NatureBridge Olympic National Park. The symposium will feature presentations of recent scientific studies, as well as lectures from nationally-recognized scholars in the fields of fisheries biology, geomorphology, ecosystem health and dam removal and river policy.

Two free events will be offered for the public at Peninsula College's Little Theater, and live streamed live online. On Monday, August 20 at 6:30 p.m., the public is invited to an overview and update on the Elwha River Restoration Project. Dr. Luke Robins President of Peninsula College, Todd Suess, Acting Superintendent of Olympic National Park, and Frances Charles, Chairwoman of the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, will open the program. Featured speakers include Lynda Mapes, a Seattle Times reporter and John Gussman, a Sequim-based cinematographer. An informal poster session will follow the presentations, with scientists available to answer questions.

On Wednesday, August 22 at 9:00 a.m., the public is invited to join a panel of experts for two hours as they discuss what they’ve learned during the first year of the project. Panelists include Brian Krohmer, Project Manager for Barnard Construction, Tim Randle, Hydraulic Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation, George Press, Fisheries Biologist for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Guy Gelfenbaum, Coastal Geologic and Oceanographic Researcher for U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Mike McHenry, Fisheries Habitat Biologist for the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe, and Joshua Chenoweth, Botanical Restorationist for Olympic National Park. The presentations will be followed by a question and answer session with both live and on-line audiences.

A live webcast of both events will be available for those who cannot attend in person. More information on the live webcasts can be found at: http://www.pencol.edu/events/elwha-science-symposium.

The symposium is being planned and organized by members of the Elwha Research Consortium (ERC), a strategic partnership of government agencies, research and educational institutions, and community groups focused on understanding the social and ecological effects of dam removal and restoration activities in the Elwha River watershed. ERC member organizations include the U.S. Geological Survey, Olympic National Park, Reclamation, Elwha Nearshore Consortium, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Peninsula College.

More information on the Elwha River Science Symposium can be found at elwharesearchconsortium.wildapricot.org.

First Lady Michelle Obama Promoting the Let’s Move Outside Effort

Let's Move! - You don't need to live near a beach or a national park to experience the joys of America's great outdoors! There are places in every community -- from bike paths and trails, to local parks, ponds and playgrounds -- to get moving outside and have a little fun. View the latest letsmove.gov video and read the blog.

Let's Move Outside YouTube

Let's Move Outside Blog

Diving into the 8th Annual Westminster Youth Water Festival

Westminster, Colo. - While water quality parameters and testing zebra mussel DNA are topics typically reserved for the laboratory, several fourth and fifth grade classes were given a chance to dive in at the 8th Annual Youth Water Festival on Tuesday, May 15, at Front Range Community College in Westminster, Colo.

"They like science, but when you give them something to play with, it's another level," said Denise Hosler, with Reclamation’s Mussel Lab in her fifth year of attendance. "The kids love it being hands on."

Reclamation was set up in one of Front Range Community College’s biology classrooms, giving the mussel lab team the ability to set up the perfect, science-based learning stations. Each of the five attending members of the Mussel Lab team had their own workspaces, where they explored topics like invasive species, water quality standards and even how to spot a veliger, also known as zebra mussel larvae, under a microscope.

"It's important to expose the kids to real world applications," said Tanna George, a Biological Science Technician with the mussel lab. "They see it in textbooks and in classrooms, but to see it in front of them shows them what things are like in nature and that they can have futures studying this."

And, despite the Reclamation team claiming college degrees and hundreds of hours of study in their fields, the groups of 9-11 year olds had no trouble jumping into the lessons.

"They had just come off of a unit where they could relate some of the things we were teaching them," said Biological Science Technician Kyle Rulli. "They were teaching me things!"

"They ask some pretty interesting questions, especially when they realize these things clog up their pipelines," echoed Jeremiah Root, also a Biological Science Technician.

Featuring a total of 45 local, state, federal, nonprofit and private business presenters, there were plenty of activities and facts to enthrall the more than 1000 students in attendance. Reclamation welcomed at least five classes into its makeshift lab.

Klamath Tribes Member and College Student Rachel Mitchell to Spend Her Summer Working at Reclamation’s Klamath Basin Area Office

KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - It's summertime, and for college students around the country, summer represents an opportunity to chill a little and recover from the last semester. Some hang out around the water, some visit parents and let mom do their laundry, some sit around and play their favorite video games?and some, like Rachel Mitchell, hustle and secure a job for the summer to help with college expenses.

Rachel, the daughter of Jeff and Kathleen Mitchell of Chiloquin, Ore., and a member of the Klamath Tribes, won't be flipping burgers or waiting tables: she's landed a position with the Bureau of Reclamation at the Klamath Basin Area Office (KBAO) in Klamath Falls, Ore. During summer 2012, she'll be helping a group of dedicated professionals who work to, as Reclamation's mission statement states, "manage, develop and protect water in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the best interest of the American public."

Chuck Korson, KBAO's Native American Affairs Coordinator, will serve as Rachel's mentor. He is excited about what the summer will hold: "Last year, we had a Klamath tribal student who worked in KBAO, and we're looking forward to having one again this year."

"Rachel will be here for approximately 10 weeks, and she will work in a rotational capacity with the Fisheries Resources Branch, Water Operations Branch and possibly the Admin Office, if time allows,'" Korson said. "I will be providing guidance and support to Rachel to address challenges she may experience while working in the field with our water quality and fisheries crews," he added.

A student at Central Oregon Community College, Rachel was selected for her position after applying to the College Intern Program (CIP) run by the Klamath Tribes. Reclamation provided funding to the Klamath Tribes to hire and place Rachel at KBAO. The CIP is just one of many programs designed to provide employment opportunities for tribal youth.

The Department of the Interior recently launched the Klamath Basin Tribal Youth employment and education initiative, which involves several federal agencies working together to help Native American youth complete high school and gain summer employment as well as help those youth who decide to go to college.

In the past, Rachel has worked on wildlife habitat-monitoring projects and mule deer trapping/tagging studies. She enjoys the outdoors and giving back to nature. For her, this is another opportunity to learn more about the environment, and she is looking forward to experiencing firsthand the work Reclamation does to enhance the habitat of Endangered Species Act-listed suckers.

"I'm excited about this summer and the opportunity to work with water quality and fisheries," Rachel said. "I'll get to learn a lot about the issues that affect the fish that are so important to my tribe, and I may find ways we can help them recover."

This position will also give Rachel more experience as she progresses in her college studies. "Right now I'm studying forestry, and I have a strong love for natural resources. I'm not sure what my final major will be, but it will have something to do with the outdoors. After I graduate, I hope to come back home and work for the tribe; and if not the tribe, at least somewhere in the Klamath area. I'd really like to make a difference," she added.

Hopefully, when Rachel returns to school, she'll have a pocket full of cash and fond memories of time spent benefiting her people, community and nation. Who knows? She may even have a goal of coming back to KBAO where her work will make a difference enhancing and protecting the water resource that is so vital to the beautiful country she calls home.

Reclamation Awards $2.45 Million Contract for New 'Green Building' at Hoover Dam

WASHINGTON - The Bureau of Reclamation has awarded a $2.45 million design-build contract to Martin-Harris Construction of Las Vegas, for a multi-use building at Hoover Dam to replace the original Spillway House on the Nevada side of the dam with a new sustainable 'green' building.

Since the project is within the National Historic Landmark boundary at Hoover Dam, the construction activities will be carefully monitored to maintain the integrity of the historic setting. The fully accessible building will offer interactive interpretive exhibits to complement the tours offered at the Visitor Center. The building will also be available for other uses ranging from meetings to special events while the exhibits are open to the public.

"This innovative structure will provide new opportunities for visitors at one of the nation's premier historic icons and tourism destinations," Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor said today. "This new green building will provide a modern venue for interpretation, education and special events – an investment that helps support the administration's initiative to promote tourism at federally managed sites across America. This project also creates jobs and supports the local economy, while enhancing the visitor experience at Hoover Dam."

Work will begin in August and should be completed in the fall of 2013. Approximately 80 percent of the building's energy requirements will be provided by rooftop solar photovoltaic panels. The design and construction also integrates sustainable materials, solar hot water heaters, and unique lighting strategies along with other innovative conservation measures.

The project is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act. SNPLMA authorizes the sale of federal lands in Clark County, Nevada, and directs those revenues to projects including capital improvements on federally managed recreation areas in southern Nevada.

Visitor opportunities will continue during the construction. Hoover Dam attracts more than 800,000 people annually to its guided powerplant tours. More information on the amenities offered, and the crucial role of Hoover Dam in providing water and power to the West is available online at: http://www.usbr.gov/lc/hooverdam/.

Reclamation Releases Rural Water Program Assessment Report, Seeks Comments on Proposed Funding Criteria

WASHINGTON – The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking comments on its Rural Water Assessment Report that reviews the status of potable water projects for rural areas, provides Reclamation's plan for completing congressionally authorized projects, and includes proposed construction funding prioritization criteria for projects in the Rural Water program.

"Rural communities, including farms and ranches, are the backbone of America. Water supply infrastructure is critical and Reclamation has developed a comprehensive strategy for effectively using available resources towards the construction of rural water projects authorized for its involvement," Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor said. "Given the budgetary uncertainties, and rising construction costs, the strategy focuses on maximizing the impact of its limited available funding by establishing clear programmatic goals and a set of transparent prioritization criteria. This approach is intended to continue to make meaningful progress in the construction of rural water projects and we look forward to receiving comments on our proposed strategy and criteria."

The Rural Water Assessment Report also describes federal programs supporting the development and management of water supplies in rural communities in the 17 western states and describes Reclamation's plans to coordinate the Rural Water Supply Program with similar programs managed by other agencies.

The proposed strategy for funding rural water construction projects describes the prioritization criteria intended to be used in a two-step process for requesting rural water construction appropriations. Reclamation is proposing to evaluate and rank projects using the criteria, then allocate requested funds to reflect project priorities and the ability of sponsors to complete phases that will deliver water and other project benefits.

The comment period for the Report is 60 days. Comments are now due by 5 p.m., (MDT), Sept. 10, 2012.

Please visit www.usbr.gov/ruralwater to read the Rural Water Program Assessment Report or learn more about the Rural Water Program.

Reclamation Updates Equipment Inspection and Cleaning Manual to Prevent Spread of Invasive Species

DENVER - The Bureau of Reclamation has updated the Inspection and Cleaning Manual for Equipment and Vehicles to Prevent the Spread of Invasive Species. This manual provides guidance for inspection and cleaning of vehicles and equipment to limit the spread of invasive species from one site to another.

"Invasive species are a serious concern and limiting their spread is important to protect the environment and ecosystems across the West," said co-author and Reclamation's Invasive Species Program Coordinator Joe DiVittorio. "This manual has application for agriculture, construction, facilities and for many organizations and agencies. It is easy to use will reduce invasive species and pest problems on land and in water."

Additions to this version of the manual include diving equipment, a quick find subject directory, new graphics and a new flowchart that walks the user through multiple steps of inspection and cleaning actions. This manual will also be the reference standard that acquisition contract contractors must follow while working on Reclamation facilities and lands.

Although not every type of equipment type is covered in this manual, five major equipment types are covered. They are: rubber-tired land vehicles; tracked land vehicles; personal use equipment, including dive gear; construction and facility equipment; and watercraft.

The manual is available online at Reclamation's Invasive Mussels website.

St. Mary River and Milk River Basins Study Complete

WASHINGTON - Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor released the St. Mary River and Milk River Basins Study Summary Report outlining the findings of a two-year comprehensive study of the river basins. The report recommends using and enhancing the new river system model developed through this study to further analyze alternatives to address supply and demand issues in the basins, including Tribal and international issues.

The study, completed in partnership with Montana Department of Natural Resources, developed and tested a river systems model to serve as a planning tool, looked at historic and future water supplies and demands, and evaluated alternatives of how the St. Mary River and Milk River system might meet projected demands in the basin.

"Basin Studies bring water managers together to look at future supply needs and to create solutions to meet those needs," said Commissioner Connor. "Even in good water years we have experienced water shortages in the Milk River Basin, so it is clear that our collaboration with the State of Montana on this study will provide new information and create a set of tools and alternatives that will be used to help meet the basin’s future water demands."

Reclamation and DNRC developed and tested a "daily time step" river system model for stakeholders in the basins to use as a planning tool. The model was calibrated for historic water supply and demand conditions and then was run for five future climate scenarios to assess how the existing infrastructure would respond. The model provides decision-makers and stakeholders a tool to evaluate issues and potential solutions within the basin.

Mary Sexton, Montana DNRC Director, said, "Improved modeling will allow us to assess future water availability and demand in these basins, where water shortages are expected to increase.

"Our challenge going forward will be to improve our infrastructure and to manage water as efficiently as possible," Sexton said. "The new river system model gives DNRC, the Bureau of Reclamation and water users a valuable tool for meeting that challenge."

The St. Mary River and Milk River basins were selected as part of the WaterSMART Basin Study Program in 2009. Basin studies are comprehensive water studies that define options for meeting future water demands in river basins in the western United States where imbalances in water supply and demand exist or are projected to exist. Since its establishment, 17 basins have been selected to be evaluated. The Yakima River Basin in Washington, also selected in 2009, was completed earlier this year.

The WaterSMART Program addresses increasing water supply challenges, including chronic water shortages due to population growth, climate variability and change and growing competition for finite water supplies. Through the Basin Study Program, Reclamation will work cooperatively with state and local partners in the 17 western states to evaluate future water supply and demand imbalances, assess the risks and impacts of climate change on water resources and develop potential mitigation and adaptation strategies to meet future demands.

To read the St. Mary and Milk River Basins Study Summary Report please visit: www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART/bsp/. To learn more about WaterSMART and the other basin studies, please visit: www.usbr.gov/WaterSMART.

Secretary Salazar, President Shelly Break Ground on Major Infrastructure Project to Deliver Running Water to Navajo Nation

GALLUP, N.M. – Following through on President Obama's direction to expedite high priority infrastructure projects for the nation, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar joined Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly and other leaders to break ground today on the historic Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, which will deliver clean running water to 200,000 members of the Navajo Nation, many for the first time.

"We are turning dirt today on this project because President Obama has put such a high priority on honoring our commitments to Indian nations, to resolving long-standing water disputes, and to jump-starting major American infrastructure projects," said Secretary Salazar, who recognized Senator Jeff Bingaman and Senator Tom Udall for their critical role in advancing the project in the Congress. "It is simply unacceptable that four in ten members of the Navajo Nation must haul their water – often over long distances – from water stations. This project will be an engine for economic growth, create jobs, and supply the lifeblood for communities that have been without running water for far too long."

"I am thankful that the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project is about to begin construction," said President Shelly. "This project is moving the Navajo Nation forward by bringing water to many homes. We will continue to look forward and anticipate the many benefits this project will bring to our people."

Hundreds of workers will now begin construction on 280 miles of pipeline, two water treatment plants and a delivery system that will serve 43 Navajo chapters, the southwest portion of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the city of Gallup. The Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project, which will provide a long-term sustainable water supply to a population expected to reach approximately 250,000 people by the year 2040, will start providing water to some communities within 2-3 years and is expected to be fully built-out by 2024.

The project, which was authorized by legislation President Obama signed on March 30, 2009, is the cornerstone of a hallmark Indian water rights settlement that resolved decades of uncertainty and dispute over water rights for the Navajo Nation and other water users in New Mexico. The project is also one of 14 high-priority infrastructure initiatives being expedited by the Obama administration as a result of a Presidential Memorandum issued in August 2011 in which the President directed federal agencies to improve permitting and environmental review processes for major infrastructure project in order to bring long-term economic benefits to communities across America, while improving accountability, transparency and efficiency.

"Over the past three years, we have reached unprecedented and historic Indian water rights settlements that provide secure water supplies for communities and certainty to all water users," said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Michael Connor. "To see the Navajo-Gallup Project break ground is to be reminded that consensus-building and cooperation can bring about real and lasting change for communities that still do not have clean and reliable water supplies. Today is a proud day."

The Bureau of Reclamation has worked closely with other federal agencies and with the Navajo Nation and to find ways to move quickly on the necessary environmental permits and other construction prerequisites to move forward as expeditiously and efficiently as possible as a high-priority infrastructure project. The first construction contract for Reach 12A of the project was awarded in mid-April to McMillen LLC, a female-owned construction company.

Today's groundbreaking marked the beginning of construction on the first four miles of the main pipeline, which will be constructed as part of Reach 12A near Tohlakai Hill, outside of Gallup. The initial stage of construction on the project will create upwards of 450 jobs, with more than 650 jobs at peak construction – providing employment opportunities and economic benefits to neighboring American Indian communities.

In addition to project reaches to be completed by Reclamation under its own authorities, other portions will be constructed by the city of Gallup, the Navajo Nation, and the Indian Health Service in accordance with financial assistance agreements with Reclamation.

Among the leaders attending today's ceremony were: Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly, U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Mike Connor, Navajo Nation Council Speaker Johnny Naize, Jicarilla Apache Nation President Levi Pesata, New Mexico Engineer Scott Verhines, and City of Gallup Mayor Jackie McKinney.

For more information, visit www.DOI.gov.