Barry Nelson commentary: A new vision for the Bureau of Reclamation

From Barry Nelson, director of the NRDC’s Western Water Project:

The Bureau of Reclamation was conceived at the start of the 20th century (originally as the Reclamation Service) to meet the needs of a world that no longer exists. Now, at the start of the 21st Century, the Bureau needs a new mission to help the West meet its needs in the future. The Green Group recommendations for the Bureau represent just such a new vision.

The West the Bureau served in 1902 looked vastly different from the world we face today. In 1902, most western states saw agriculture as the dominant force in their economies. Most of these states were seeking policies designed to increase their populations as rapidly as possible. The dramatic rise of public concern regarding the health of the environment was decades in the future. And the Bureau had relatively few tools at its disposal to help meet water needs. In 1902, even effective groundwater pumps wouldn’t be developed for decades. It’s not a surprise that, for the next century, the Bureau focused primarily on building dams and canals to serve agriculture – becoming a world leader through the construction of Hoover Dam and dozens of other projects.

Today, however, the Bureau faces dramatically different challenges. New industries have emerged, driving the economies of most western states. Burgeoning cities are concerned about the adequacy and reliability of their water supplies. Salmon runs and aquatic resources are declining across the West — leading to a public outcry for a more balanced approach. And finally, climate change presents a clear case for a new direction. Three examples of these new challenges suggest that a new direction is needed and possible.

Read the full text of Barry Nelson’s article by clicking here.

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