link to page 1 
Updated September 15, 2022
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
Overview
First, in September 2021, Congress included $210 million
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the
in supplemental funding for Reclamation in the Disaster
Department of the Interior, is responsible for the
Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-
construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and
43, Division B); these funds were provided to combat
water diversion structures in the 17 western reclamation
western drought and wildfire. Then, in October 2021 under
states designated in statute by Congress. These projects
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58),
provide water to approximately 10 million acres of
Congress enacted $8.30 billion in supplemental
farmland and 31 million people. Reclamation is the largest
appropriations for various infrastructure-focused
wholesale supplier of water in these 17 states and the
Reclamation expenditures. This funding is to be made
second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation.
available in equal installments from FY2022 to FY2026
Reclamation’s mission areas and geographic scope are
(i.e., $1.66 billion per year). Finally, in P.L. 117-169
narrower than those of the other principal federal water
(popularly known as the Inflation Reduction Act), enacted
resource agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
in August 2022, Congress approved an additional $4 billion
for Reclamation for western drought mitigation, with
Reclamation has evolved since its creation in 1902; its
priority given to actions in the Colorado River Basin. All of
focus has shifted from construction of new water storage
this funding is “no year” funding, meaning it remains
projects to operation and maintenance of existing projects.
available until expended.
Reclamation also has expanded into new areas, such as
funding for water projects on tribal lands and in rural areas.
Figure 1. Reclamation Annual Appropriations:
Congress also has authorized new Reclamation grants for
FY2015-FY2023
nonfederal projects, including those for water reuse and
(nominal $ in millions)
recycling, desalination, conservation and efficiency, and
restoration, among other purposes.
Reclamation’s Water and Related Resources account funds
most agency activities, including construction, operation
and maintenance, dam safety, ecosystem restoration, Indian
water rights settlements, and most programmatic and grant
authorities. Reclamation typically also receives funding for
three smaller accounts: California Bay-Delta Restoration,
the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund (which is offset
by customer receipts), and Policy and Administration.
FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
The Administration request is usually less than the final
enacted total for Reclamation. For FY2023, President Biden
requested $1.41 billion in gross current budget authority
(i.e., appropriations before offsets) for Reclamation. H.R.
8294, Division C, Energy and Water Development and
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023, as passed by
the House on July 20, 2022, contained $1.89 billion for
Reclamation. On July 28, 2022, the Chair of the Senate
Source: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2022 enacted appropriations, the
Committee on Appropriations released draft bill text and a
FY2023 budget request, and FY2023 Appropriations Committees
draft accompanying explanatory statement with $1.92
data.
billion contained for Reclamation. On the same day, this
Notes: Does not reflect supplemental funding or offsetting receipts
draft bill text was introduced as S. 4660. This In Focus
for the Central Val ey Project Restoration Fund.
continues to refer to the Senate Committee majority draft
bill on which the draft explanatory statement is based.
Earmarks and Reclamation
Figure 1 shows enacted appropriations levels for
Most of Reclamation’s budget goes to projects rather than
Reclamation’s accounts since FY2015.
programs, and the Water and Related Resources account
consists largely of individual project funding lines. During
In addition to regular appropriations, Congress has recently
the 112th-116th Congresses, Reclamation appropriations
provided Reclamation with supplemental appropriations
were subject to general “earmark moratoriums” that
that may factor into FY2023 appropriations considerations.
restricted Congress from funding geographically specific
https://crsreports.congress.gov
link to page 2 link to page 2 
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
project line items not requested by the Administration.
(including $117 million in FY2022 under the
Instead, Congress included “additional funding” amounts
aforementioned Additional Funding category). Reclamation
for selected categories of Reclamation projects, typically in
has allocated and Congress has approved $510 million of
five categories: Rural Water, Water Conservation and
this funding for 13 projects in 3 states: 10 in California, 2 in
Delivery, Environmental Restoration and Compliance, Fish
Washington, and 1 in Idaho. For FY2023 appropriations
Passage/Fish Screens, and Facilities Maintenance and
under H.R. 8294, the House recommended $134 million of
Rehabilitation. The Administration recommended
Additional Funding amounts for these projects. The draft
allocations of these funds for specific projects in spend
Senate Appropriations Committee majority
plans made available several months after enactment of the
recommendation proposed the same amount.
appropriations bills. (Spend plans are available at
http://www.usbr.gov/budget/.)
WaterSMART Program
Reclamation combines funding for six subprograms (many
In FY2022, Congress included the first Member-requested
of them awarded as grants) that promote water conservation
“earmarks” since the 111th Congress. These funds were
into one program—the WaterSMART program. The largest
categorized as community project funding or
subprograms are WaterSMART Grants (i.e., water and
congressionally directed spending in the House and Senate,
energy efficiency grants) and Title XVI projects (i.e., water
respectively. For FY2023, the House Appropriations
recycling and reuse projects). For FY2023, the Biden
Committee’s report and the Senate Appropriations
Administration requested $62 million for the WaterSMART
Committee majority draft explanatory statement included
program (Figure 3). In H.R. 8294, the House recommended
these funds in their recommendations (Figure 2).
$189 million for WaterSMART programs, while the draft
Senate Appropriations Committee majority
Figure 2. Reclamation Additional Funds from
recommendation included $157 million for WaterSMART.
Congress, FY2014-FY2023
(nominal $ in millions)
Figure 3. Reclamation WaterSMART Program:
FY2015-FY2023
(nominal $ in millions)
Source: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2022 enacted appropriations, the
Sources: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2022 enacted appropriations
FY2023 budget request, and FY2023 Appropriations Committees
data and FY2023 Appropriations Committees data.
data.
Notes: CPF/CDS=Community Project Funding/Congressional y
Additional Reading
Directed Spending.
CRS Report R46303, Bureau of Reclamation: History,
Reclamation Appropriations Issues
Authorities, and Issues for Congress.
WIIN Act Section 4007 Funding
CRS Report CRS Report R47032, Bureau of Reclamation
Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for
(P.L. 117-58).
the Nation Act (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322) authorized a new
process for Reclamation to study and construct federal and
CRS In Focus IF10626, Reclamation Water Storage
nonfederal water storage projects. For projects to receive
Projects: Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure
funding, first Congress must appropriate funds under this
Improvements for the Nation Act.
authority. Then, the Administration must recommend
specific projects for funding and Congress must decide
CRS Report R44148, Indian Water Rights Settlements.
whether to approve the recommendations in enacted
appropriations legislation.
Charles V. Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
From FY2017 through FY2022, Congress appropriated
IF12127
$720 million in regular appropriations for these projects
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
Disclaimer
This document was prepared by the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS serves as nonpartisan shared staff to
congressional committees and Members of Congress. It operates solely at the behest of and under the direction of Congress.
Information in a CRS Report should not be relied upon for purposes other than public understanding of information that has
been provided by CRS to Members of Congress in connection with CRS’s institutional role. CRS Reports, as a work of the
United States Government, are not subject to copyright protection in the United States. Any CRS Report may be
reproduced and distributed in its entirety without permission from CRS. However, as a CRS Report may include
copyrighted images or material from a third party, you may need to obtain the permission of the copyright holder if you
wish to copy or otherwise use copyrighted material.
https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12127 · VERSION 2 · UPDATED