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March 30, 2023
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
Overview
IRA) provided an additional $4.59 billion for Reclamation,
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the
including $4.00 billion for western drought mitigation with
Department of the Interior, is responsible for the
priority given to actions in the Colorado River Basin. IIJA
construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and
funding is “no year” funding, meaning it remains available
water diversion structures in the 17 western reclamation
until expended; IRA funding is to remain available until
states as designated in statute (43 U.S.C. §391). These
FY2026 or FY2031, depending on the provision.
projects provide water to approximately 10 million acres of
Reclamation has been gradually allocating IIJA funding in
farmland and 31 million people. Reclamation is the largest
spend plans for each fiscal year and is releasing IRA
wholesale supplier of water in these 17 states and the
funding on a rolling basis.
second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation.
Reclamation’s mission areas and geographic scope are
Figure 1. Reclamation Annual Appropriations from
narrower than those of the other principal federal water
FY2015 to FY2023 and FY2024 Budget Request
resource agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
(nominal $ in millions)
Reclamation has evolved since its creation in 1902; its
focus has shifted from construction of new water storage
projects to operation and maintenance (O&M) of existing
projects. Reclamation also has expanded into new areas,
such as funding 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, O&M, 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.
Source: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2023 enacted appropriations and
the FY2024 President’s Budget request.
FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
Notes: Does not reflect supplemental funding or offsetting receipts.
The Administration budget request for Reclamation is
usually for a lower amount than the final enacted total of
“Earmarks” and Reclamation
annual appropriations. For FY2024, the President requested
Most of Reclamation’s budget goes to projects rather than
$1.45 billion in current budget authority (i.e.,
programs, and the Water and Related Resources account
appropriations before offsets) for Reclamation. The Energy
consists largely of individual project funding lines. During
and Water Development and Related Agencies
the 112th-116th Congresses, Reclamation appropriations
Appropriations Act, 2023 (Division D of the Consolidated
were subject to general “earmark moratoriums” that
Appropriations Act, 2023, P.L. 117-328), provided $1.93
restricted Congress from funding geographically specific
billion for Reclamation. Figure 1 shows recent
project line items not requested by the Administration.
Reclamation annual appropriations levels.
Instead, Congress included “additional funding” amounts
for selected categories of Reclamation projects, typically in
In addition to regular appropriations, Congress has provided
five categories: Rural Water, Water Conservation and
Reclamation with supplemental appropriations that may
Delivery, Environmental Restoration and Compliance, Fish
factor into FY2024 appropriations considerations. The
Passage/Fish Screens, and Facilities Maintenance and
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58)
Rehabilitation. The Administration recommended
included $8.30 billion in supplemental appropriations for
allocations of these funds for specific projects in spend
various infrastructure-focused Reclamation expenditures.
plans made available several months after enactment of the
This funding is to be made available in equal installments
appropriations bills. (Spend plans are available at
from FY2022 to FY2026 (i.e., $1.66 billion per year). P.L.
http://www.usbr.gov/budget/.)
117-169 (popularly known as the Inflation Reduction Act,
https://crsreports.congress.gov
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Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
In FY2022, Congress included the first Member-requested
WaterSMART Program
“earmarks” since the 111th Congress. These funds were
Reclamation combines funding for six subprograms (many
categorized as community project funding (CPF) or
of them awarded as grants) that promote water conservation
congressionally directed spending (CDS) in the House and
into one program—the WaterSMART program. The largest
Senate, respectively. For FY2023, the explanatory
subprograms are WaterSMART Grants (i.e., water and
statement for the enacted bill continued to include these
energy efficiency grants) and Title XVI projects (i.e., water
funds in their recommendations for Reclamation, in
recycling and reuse projects). FY2023 annual
addition to amounts designated as “Additional Funding.”
appropriations provided $191 million for WaterSMART. In
Division D of P.L. 117-328 included $325 million in
the FY2024 Budget Request, the Biden Administration
additional funding and $54 million in CPD/CDS (Figure
proposed $63 million for the WaterSMART program.
2). In FY2024, Senate and House Appropriations
Committees are allowing CPF/CDS requests.
Figure 3. WaterSMART Program: FY2015-FY2023
Annual Appropriations and FY2024 Budget Request
Figure 2. Additional Funds from Congress for
(nominal $ in millions)
Reclamation Projects, FY2015-FY2023 Annual
Appropriations
(nominal $ in millions)
Source: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2023 enacted appropriations and
the FY2024 President’s Budget request.
Indian Water Rights Settlements
The FY2024 President’s Budget proposed changes in how
Reclamation funds Indian water rights settlements. For the
Sources: CRS, based on FY2015-FY2023 enacted appropriations.
first time in decades, the budget proposed no discretionary
Notes: CPF/CDS=Community Project Funding/Congressional y
funding for construction of projects for these settlements,
Directed Spending.
noting funding needs could be met by mandatory funding
available from the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund
Reclamation Appropriations Issues
and the Indian Water Rights Settlement Completion Fund.
The Administration also proposed two new mandatory
WIIN Act Section 4007 Funding
funds. The first would provide $2.5 billion to support
Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for
additional funding for new and amended settlements. The
the Nation Act (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322) authorized a new
other fund would provide $340 million over 10 years to
process for Reclamation to study and construct federal and
address ongoing operation, maintenance, and repairs
nonfederal water storage projects. For projects to receive
associated with existing Indian water rights settlements.
funding under Section 4007, first Congress must
Both funds would require congressional authorization.
appropriate funds under this authority. Then the
Administration must recommend specific projects to fund
Additional Reading
and Congress must decide whether to approve the
CRS Report CRS Report R47032, Bureau of Reclamation
recommendations in enacted appropriations legislation.
Provisions in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act
(P.L. 117-58).
From FY2017 through FY2023, Congress appropriated
$854 million in regular appropriations for these projects.
CRS In Focus IF10626, Reclamation Water Storage
Reclamation has allocated and Congress has approved $511
Projects: Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure
million of this funding for 13 projects in three states: 10 in
Improvements for the Nation (WIIN) Act.
California, 2 in Washington, and 1 in Idaho. In FY2023
enacted appropriations for Reclamation, Congress included
CRS Report R44148, Indian Water Rights Settlements.
$134 million of Additional Funding amounts for future
projects under Section 4007. No funding is requested for
Charles V. Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
these projects in the Administration’s FY2024 budget.
IF12369
https://crsreports.congress.gov
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
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