News Release Archive

Reclamation's FY 2011 Budget Request is $1.1 Billion

Budget Initiatives Support Climate Change Adaptation and Renewable Energy, Tribal Nations, River Restoration, Sustainable Water Supply Strategy and Infrastructure Needs

Media Contact: Dan DuBray, 202-513-0574, ddubray@usbr.gov

For Release: February 01, 2010

President Barack Obama's FY 2011 budget request, released today, includes a total of $1,064.7 million in new (gross) budget authority for the Department of the Interior's Bureau of Reclamation. The President's request reflects his continuing commitment to be prudent with taxpayer dollars while setting priorities for spending.

"The President's budget proposal promotes fiscal responsibility while allowing Reclamation to continue to meet its mission of providing water and producing renewable, clean hydropower," said Reclamation Commissioner Michael L. Connor. "The President's proposal will help communities in the West address their water-related challenges by supporting Reclamation's mission of managing, developing, and protecting water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American people."

The budget continues to emphasize working smarter to address the water needs of a growing population in an environmentally responsible and cost-efficient manner; and assisting states, tribes and local entities in solving contemporary water resource issues. It also emphasizes the operation and maintenance of Reclamation facilities in a safe, efficient, economic and reliable manner; assuring systems and safety measures are in place to protect the public and Reclamation facilities. Reclamation's funding request addresses Administration, Departmental and Bureau priorities - key focus areas include the WaterSMART Program, Restoring Rivers, Climate Change Adaptation and Renewable Energy and Supporting Tribal Nations.

The Administration's budget proposal enables Reclamation to fulfill its core missions of managing the delivery of water and the generation of hydroelectricity in the West.

The President's budget proposal for Reclamation's Water and Related Resources account of $913.6 million including $489.9 million for water and energy, land, and fish and wildlife resource management and development activities. Funding in these activities provides for planning, construction, water conservation activities, management of Reclamation lands including recreation and actions to address the impacts of Reclamation projects on fish and wildlife. The request also emphasizes reliable water delivery and power generation by requesting more than $423.7 million to fund operation, maintenance and rehabilitation activities at Reclamation facilities, including dam safety. Reclamation is committed to working with water and power users, states, tribes, and other stakeholders to find ways to address and meet the mix of water resource needs in 2011 and beyond.

Specifics of the budget request include:

The WaterSMART Program - The FY2011 budget for Reclamation proposes $62.0 million for the WaterSMART Program - Sustain and Manage America's Resources for Tomorrow - to assist local communities in stretching water supplies and improving water management. The WaterSMART Program will improve water management by encouraging voluntary water banks, reducing demand, implementing water conservation and and reuse projects, and taking action to improve energy efficiency, promote renewable energy and reduce environmental conflicts.

Restoring Rivers - In carrying out its core mission goals of delivering water and generating hydropower, Reclamation also has a responsibility to focus on the protection and restoration of the aquatic and riparian environments affected by its operations. Some highlights of Reclamation's Restoring Rivers activities, many of which are needed to fulfill Endangered Species Act recovery programs, include:

  • $171.7 million for the Central Valley Project, of which a significant portion is for environmental protection and restoration including $39.9 million for Phase II of the Red Bluff fish passage and $11.8 million for the Trinity River Restoration;
  • $16.5 million for the Multi-Species Conservation Program within the Lower Colorado River Operations to provide long-term Endangered Species Act compliance for river operations;
  • $23.7 million for Endangered Species Act Recovery implementation programs including $12.7 million in the Great Plains Region to implement the Platte River Endangered Species Recovery Implementation Program and $8.4 million for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program.
  • $22.5 million for the Klamath Project, of which a significant portion is for environmental protection and restoration to continue funding for studies and initiatives related to improving water supplies to meet the competing demands of agricultural, tribal, wildlife refuge; and addressing environmental needs in the Klamath River basin including endangered species recovery and other restoration activities;
  • $40.0 million for the California Bay-Delta Program to continue funding for water use efficiency, storage program studies, water conveyance, ecosystem restoration, water quality, science and program oversight;
  • $49.9 million for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund to continue funding a variety of activities to restore fish and wildlife habitat and populations in the Central Valley Project service area of California;
  • $25.1 million for the Middle Rio Grande Project, of which a significant portion is to support environmental activities developed through the ESA Collaborative Program.

Climate Change Adaptation and Renewable Energy - Reclamation is supporting the Department's integrated strategy for responding to climate change impacts:

  • $6.0 million for Reclamation's Basin Study Program, which will support implementation of West-wide risk assessments and to establish two Landscape Conservation Cooperatives; and $11.5 million for science and technology, within which funding will support the establishment of DOI Climate Science Centers. Reclamation is also assessing and implementing new renewable energy generation development along with other federal and state agencies, water users and private sector entities.

Supporting Tribal Nations - The budget also supports tribal nations through a number of projects:

  • $12.5 million for the Animas La Plata Project (Colorado., New Mexico) to continue construction and implementation of the Colorado Ute Settlement Act Amendments of 2000;
  • $10.0 million for the Navajo-Gallup Water Supply Project (New Mexico, Arizona), which will provide a reliable and sustainable municipal, industrial and domestic water supply from the San Juan River to 43 Chapters of the Navajo Nation;
  • $4.0 million for the Soboba Water Rights Settlement Project (California) to complete funding for the payment or reimbursement for constructing, operating and maintaining the portion of the basin recharge project that the United States is responsible for under the Settlement Agreement;
  • $7.4 million for the Native American Affairs Program to continue support of Reclamation activities with Indian Tribes. These activities include providing technical support for Indian water-rights settlements; assisting tribal governments to protect, manage and develop water and related resources; and supporting Indian self-governance and self-determination programs.

Other Project Highlights include -

  • $62.0 million for ongoing construction on seven rural water projects in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and New Mexico as well as operation and maintenance on completed tribal features for two of the projects. Five of the projects directly benefit tribal nations;
  • $95.2 million for the Dam Safety Program to continue dam safety risk management and risk reduction activities throughout Reclamation's inventory of high- and significant-hazard dams. Corrective actions are planned to continue or start at a number of facilities. A major focus continues to be modifications at Folsom Dam (California);
  • $30.2 million for Site Security to continue Reclamation's on-going site-security program that includes physical security upgrades at key facilities, guards and patrols, anti-terrorism program activities and security risk assessments.

The Bureau of Reclamation throughout the 17 western states is committed to helping meet the many water challenges of the West. A driving force behind Bureau initiatives is resolution of water issues that will benefit future generations.

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The Bureau of Reclamation is a federal agency under the U.S. Department of the Interior and is the nation's largest wholesale water supplier and second largest producer of hydroelectric power. Our facilities also provide substantial flood control, recreation opportunities, and environmental benefits. Visit our website at https://www.usbr.gov and follow us on Twitter @USBR; Facebook @bureau.of.reclamation; LinkedIn @Bureau of Reclamation; Instagram @bureau_of_reclamation; and YouTube @reclamation.

Relevant Link:

Reclamation's Budget Website