The U.S. President’s budget proposal for fiscal year 2024 includes $1.4 billion for the Bureau of Reclamation to make “critical, targeted investments in the American people that will promote greater prosperity and economic growth for decades to come.”
The President’s budget request for Reclamation will:
Prioritize climate resiliency and drought mitigation: Communities across the Colorado River Basin face the impacts of the ongoing drought, so to improve and protect the stability and sustainability of the river system, the Department of the Interior is pursuing a collaborative, consensus-based approach to conserve water and increase the efficiency of water use in the basin. The budget proposal includes $49 million for the Lower Colorado River Operations Program, including $16.8 million to continue working to implement drought contingency plans. It also includes $2.7 million for the Upper Colorado River Operations Program to support drought response operations and $200.3 million to find long-term, comprehensive water supply solutions for farmers, families and communities in California. The budget includes $62.9 million for the WaterSMART Program to support Reclamation’s collaboration with non-federal partners to address emerging water demands and water shortage issues.
Prioritize underserved communities: Reclamation’s request continues to support racial and economic equity through commitments to underserved communities and Tribal areas. A request of $57.8 million advances the construction and continues the operations and maintenance of authorized rural water projects. The budget request also provides $35.5 million for the Native American Affairs Program, which provides technical support and assistance to tribal governments to develop and manage their water resources.
Address aging infrastructure needs: Reclamation’s dams and reservoirs, water conveyance systems, and power generating facilities represent a primary focus area of organizational operations. The budget includes $210.2 million for the Dam Safety Program to manage risks to the downstream public, of which $182.6 million is for modification actions. Another focus area is $105.3 million requested for extraordinary maintenance activities. This is part of a strategy to improve asset management and deal with aging infrastructure to ensure continued reliable delivery of water and power. These funding amounts are included in the $1.3 billion budget request for Reclamation’s principal operating account (Water and Related Resources), which funds planning; construction; water conservation; efforts to address fish and wildlife habitat needs; and operation, maintenance and rehabilitation activities. Additionally, funding of $33 million is requested to implement the California Bay-Delta Program and address California’s water supply and ecological challenges, while $48.5 million is for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund to protect, restore and enhance fish, wildlife and associated habitats in California’s Central Valley and Trinity River basins.
The request also provides $66.8 million for Policy and Administration to develop, evaluate and implement Reclamation-wide policy, rules and regulation, as well as other administrative functions.
“The President’s budget proposal lends significant support to Reclamation’s priorities to secure and modernize our nation’s water infrastructure to ensure our work progresses with stakeholders to sustainability address drought, climate change and issues of equity,” said Commissioner of Reclamation Camille Calimlim Touton. “This will allow our dedicated professionals to develop innovative solutions and support adaptive management of precious resources, for today and into the future.”
This budget request is complemented by nearly $1.7 billion in funding Reclamation will receive in FY 2024 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
The Bureau of Reclamation covers 17 western states and brings water to more than 31 million people. As the second-largest producer of hydropower in the U.S., its fleet includes 77 hydropower facilities that generate about 40 million MWh of electricity each year.
