What does U.S. Bureau of Reclamation do?
Reclamations mission is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. Here in the Pacific Northwest – beginning in 1904 – Congress authorized Reclamation to construct and manage 25 different Reclamation projects to deliver irrigation water. A project, such as the Boise Project, may have a number of dams and related facilities. Reclamation contracts to deliver water to approximately 90 irrigation districts and canal companies in Idaho. Operation and maintenance of many Reclamation-built works have been transferred to irrigation districts. However, in Idaho, operation and maintenance of Anderson Ranch, Arrowrock, Black Canyon, Cascade, Deadwood, American Falls, Minidoka, Palisades and Ririe dams is performed by Reclamation. Irrigation districts pay a portion of the cost of operating and maintaining facilities.
