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Updated February 15, 2023
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
Overview
Congress enacted $8.30 billion in supplemental
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the
appropriations for various infrastructure-focused
Department of the Interior, is responsible for the
Reclamation expenditures. This funding is to be made
construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and
available in equal installments from FY2022 to FY2026
water diversion structures in the 17 western reclamation
(i.e., $1.66 billion per year). Finally, in P.L. 117-169
states designated in statute by Congress. These projects
(popularly known as the Inflation Reduction Act), enacted
provide water to approximately 10 million acres of
in August 2022, Congress approved an additional $4.00
farmland and 31 million people. Reclamation is the largest
billion for Reclamation for western drought mitigation, with
wholesale supplier of water in these 17 states and the
priority given to actions in the Colorado River Basin. All of
second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation.
this funding is “no year” funding, meaning it remains
Reclamation’s mission areas and geographic scope are
available until expended.
narrower than those of the other principal federal water
resource agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Figure 1. Reclamation Annual Appropriations:
FY2015-FY2023
Reclamation has evolved since its creation in 1902; its
(nominal $ in millions)
focus has shifted from construction of new water storage
projects to operation and maintenance of existing projects.
Reclamation also has expanded into new areas, such as
funding for water projects on tribal lands and in rural areas.
Congress also has authorized new Reclamation grants for
nonfederal projects, including those for water reuse and
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
Source: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2023 enacted appropriations data.
requested $1.41 billion in gross current budget authority
Notes: Does not reflect supplemental funding or offsetting receipts
(i.e., appropriations before offsets) for Reclamation. The
for the Central Val ey Project Restoration Fund.
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies
Appropriations Act, 2023 (Division D of the Consolidated
“Earmarks” and Reclamation
Appropriations Act, 2023; P.L. 117-328), provided $1.93
Most of Reclamation’s budget goes to projects rather than
billion for Reclamation. Figure 1 shows enacted
appropriations levels for Reclamation’s
programs, and the Water and Related Resources account
accounts since
consists largely of individual project funding lines. During
FY2015.
the 112th-116th Congresses, Reclamation appropriations
were subject to general “earmark moratoriums” that
In addition to regular appropriations, Congress has provided
restricted Congress from funding geographically specific
Reclamation with supplemental appropriations that may
project line items not requested by the Administration.
factor into FY2023 appropriations considerations. First, in
Instead, Congress included “additional funding” amounts
September 2021, Congress included $210 million in
for selected categories of Reclamation projects, typically in
supplemental funding for Reclamation in the Disaster
five categories: Rural Water, Water Conservation and
Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2022 (P.L. 117-
Delivery, Environmental Restoration and Compliance, Fish
43, Division B); these funds were provided to combat
Passage/Fish Screens, and Facilities Maintenance and
western drought and wildfire. Then, in October 2021 under
Rehabilitation. The Administration recommended
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58),
allocations of these funds for specific projects in spend
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Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
plans made available several months after enactment of the
aforementioned additional funding categories). Reclamation
appropriations bills. (Spend plans are available at
has allocated and Congress has approved $510 million of
http://www.usbr.gov/budget/.)
this funding for 13 projects in three states: 10 in California,
2 in Washington, and 1 in Idaho. FY2023 enacted
In FY2022, Congress included the first Member-requested
appropriations for Reclamation included $134 million of
“earmarks” since the 111th Congress. These funds were
Additional Funding amounts for future projects under
categorized as community project funding (CPF) or
Section 4007.
congressionally directed spending (CDS) in the House and
Senate, respectively. For FY2023, the explanatory
WaterSMART Program
statement for the enacted bill continued to include these
Reclamation combines funding for six subprograms (many
funds in their recommendations, in addition to amounts
of them awarded as grants) that promote water conservation
designated as additional funding. The final FY2023 enacted
into one program—the WaterSMART program. The largest
bill included $325 million in additional funding and $54
subprograms are WaterSMART Grants (i.e., water and
million in CPD/CDS (Figure 2).
energy efficiency grants) and Title XVI projects (i.e., water
recycling and reuse projects). For FY2023, the Biden
Figure 2. Reclamation Additional Funds from
Administration requested $62 million for the WaterSMART
Congress, FY2014-FY2023
program, and Congress enacted $186 million for
(nominal $ in millions)
WaterSMART.
Figure 3. Reclamation WaterSMART Program:
FY2015-FY2023
(nominal $ in millions)
Sources: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2023 enacted appropriations
data.
Source: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2023 enacted appropriations.
Notes: CPF/CDS=Community Project Funding/Congressional y
Directed Spending.
Additional Reading
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
Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for
Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
the Nation Act (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322) authorized a new
(P.L. 117-58).
process for Reclamation to study and construct federal and
nonfederal water storage projects. For projects to receive
CRS In Focus IF10626, Reclamation Water Storage
funding, first Congress must appropriate funds under this
Projects: Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure
authority. Then the Administration must recommend
Improvements for the Nation Act.
specific projects for funding and Congress must decide
whether to approve the recommendations in enacted
CRS Report R44148, Indian Water Rights Settlements.
appropriations legislation.
Charles V. Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
From FY2017 through FY2022, Congress appropriated
$720 million in regular appropriations for these projects
IF12127
(including $117 million in FY2022 under the
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Bureau of Reclamation: FY2023 Budget and Appropriations
Disclaimer
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https://crsreports.congress.gov | IF12127 · VERSION 3 · UPDATED