Recreation

Managing Partners

Navajo Entrance SignThe Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) has been directed by the Congress to coordinate the recreation use at its water projects with the use of existing and planned Federal, State, or local public recreation developments and to encourage non-Federal public bodies, or other Federal agencies, to manage recreation at Reclamation project areas.  Over the years, it has been Reclamation’s goal to seek other qualified government entities to manage recreation at its water projects.  This effort has resulted in many successful Federal and non-Federal partnerships with qualified entities throughout the 17 Western States. 

Most Reclamation project areas have been developed and managed for recreation purposes in partnership with State, county, or local governments who have entered into long-term recreation management agreements with Reclamation.  These types of agreements are typically for 25 years and have a specified termination date.  Currently, 64 non-Federal partners manage 156 developed recreation areas at Reclamation water projects. An additional 102 areas have been developed and transferred to other Federal agencies or tribes through agreements or Congressional authorization which allows them to manage recreation and other land resources using their rules and regulations.  These types of transfers are usually in perpetuity and have no termination date.

Following is a list of non-Federal and Federal governmental entities and Indian Tribes that manage recreation at Reclamation water projects.

Water WorksList of Non-Federal Managing Partners

Arizona Game and Fish
Bingham County, Idaho
Bonneville County, Idaho
California Department of Fish and Game
California Department of Parks and Recreation
Carlsbad Irrigation District, New Mexico
Casitas Municipal Water District, California
City of American Falls, Idaho
City of Cascade, Idaho
City of Dickinson, North Dakota
City of Donnelly, Idaho
City of Henderson, Nevada
City of Phoenix, Arizona
City of Red Bluff, California
City of San Angelo, Texas
City of Scottsdale, Arizona
Clark County, Nevada
Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Recreation
Colorado Division of Wildlife
Colusa County, CA
Department of Higher Education, State of Oklahoma
East Bay Regional Park District, California
Estes Valley Recreation and Park District, Colorado
Harney County, Oregon
Idaho Department of Fish and Game
Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation
Jackson County, Oregon
Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks
Kern County, California
Klamath County, Oregon
Larimer County, Colorado
Lower Loup Natural Resources District, Nebraska
Malheur County, Oregon
Maricopa County, Arizona
Mohave County, Arizona
Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks
Natrona County, Wyoming
Nebraska Game and Parks Commission
Nevada Department of Wildlife
Nevada Division of State Parks
New Mexico State Parks
North Dakota Game and Fish
North Dakota State Parks
Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department
Oregon State Department of Parks and Recreation
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
Pine River Irrigation District, Colorado
Power County, Idaho
Riverside County, California
Salt River Project, Arizona
San Benito County, California
Santa Barbara County, California
Shoshone/Heart Mountain Irrigation Department, Wyoming
Solano County Regional Parks, California
South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
Stutsman County, North Dakota
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Town of Grand Coulee, Washington
Turtle Lake Park Board, North Dakota
Union County, Oregon
Utah Division of State Parks
Washington County, Oregon
Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife
Washington State Parks and Recreation
Wyoming Game and Fish
Wyoming State Parks and Historic Sites
Yolo County, California

Poison Creek, Cabarton and PA-CO-CHU-PUK

List of Federal and Indian Tribe Partners

Bureau of Land Management
National Park Service
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
U.S. Forest Service
Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation
Nambe Pueblo
Spokane Tribe

Last Updated: 2/14/22