From Charles V. Stern comes this updated (3 September 2021) CRS InFocus report: 'Bureau of Reclamation - FY2022 Appropriations'.
Download CRS_InFocus_USBR_FY2022_Appropriations_3Sept2021
Click on the graphics to enlarge them. They are not placed in the same places as in the report.
Overview
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior, is responsible for construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and water diversion structures in the 17 coterminous western states. These projects provide water to approximately 10 million acres of farmland and 31 million people. Reclamation is the largest wholesale supplier of water in 17 western states and the second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation. Reclamation’s mission areas and geographic scope are narrower than the other principal federal water resource agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Reclamation’s role has evolved, and its focus gradually has shifted from construction of new water storage projects to operation and maintenance of existing projects. Reclamation also has expanded into new areas, including funding for water supply projects on tribal lands and in rural areas under congressionally authorized Indian water rights settlements and rural water supply projects, respectively. In addition, Congress has authorized Reclamation grants to nonfederal projects, including those for water reuse and recycling, conservation and efficiency, and desalination.
Reclamation’s Water and Related Resources account funds most agency activities, including construction, operation and maintenance, dam safety, ecosystem restoration, Indian water rights settlements, and most programmatic and grant authorities. Reclamation typically also requests funding for three smaller accounts: California Bay-Delta Restoration, the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund (which is offset by customer receipts), and Policy and Administration.
Let's cut to the last two sections...
Western Drought
Much of the western United States is facing extraordinary drought conditions, and several Reclamation programs address drought. For FY2022, both H.R. 4502 and S. 2605 would add funds for drought response, with $8.5 million in addition to the Administration’s budget request for the Drought Response Program. H.R. 4502 also stipulated that $50 million in additional funding for Water Conservation and Delivery (see previous section, “Earmarks and Reclamation”) was for implementation of the Lower Colorado River Drought Contingency Plan, while S. 2605 stipulated that $40 million was for the same purpose.Additional Reading
CRS Report R46303, Bureau of Reclamation: History, Authorities, and Issues for Congress.CRS In Focus IF10626, Reclamation Water Storage Projects: Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act.
CRS Report R44148, Indian Water Rights Settlements.
CRS Report R46308, Bureau of Reclamation Rural Water Projects.
CRS Report R45546, Management of the Colorado River: Water Allocations, Drought, and the Federal Role.
Enjoy!
“Reason is the first casualty in a drought.” - Marc Reisner (in Cadillac Desert: The American West and Its Disappearing Water (from Goodreads)
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