The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) operates within the Department of the Interior and was formed as a result of the Reclamation Act of 1902. The intent of the legislation was that the arid lands that dominated the west would be “reclaimed” for human use through irrigation. As part of that process, Reclamation has been responsible for the construction of over 600 dams and reservoirs including the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and the Grand Coulee Dam on the Columbia.

In large measure, the water projects undertaken by the Bureau allowed for and stimulated the enormous growth that has occurred in the West since the 1920’s. They also are responsible for ecosystem destruction on an enormous scale as the projects they undertook resulted in the massive diversion of water, forever altering the existing environment.

Although the size and scope of their projects is somewhat reduced from their “glory days”, Reclamation has retained an important role within the federal hierarchy. The Bureau is the second largest producer of hydroelectric power operating 58 power plants and is the largest wholesaler of water in the country. In addition to providing water to 31 million people, the bureau also provides irrigation to 10 million acres of farmland which produces 60% of the nation’s vegetables.