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Updated April 5, 2024
Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the
Figure 1. Reclamation Annual Appropriations,
Department of the Interior, is primarily responsible for the
FY2014-FY2024
construction and operation of hundreds of large dams and
(nominal $ in millions)
water diversion structures in the 17 western reclamation
states as designated in statute (43 U.S.C. §391).
Reclamation is the largest wholesale supplier of water in
these 17 states and the second-largest hydroelectric power
producer in the nation. Reclamation’s mission areas and
geographic scope are narrower than those of the other
principal federal water resource agency, the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers.
Reclamation’s Water and Related Resources account funds
most agency activities, including construction, operations
and maintenance, dam safety, ecosystem restoration, and
Indian water rights settlements, as well as the agency’s
programmatic and grant authorities (including those for
water reuse and recycling, desalination, conservation and
efficiency, and restoration, among other purposes).
Reclamation typically also receives funding for three
Source: CRS, based on FY2014-FY2024 enacted appropriations.
smaller accounts: California Bay-Delta Restoration, the
Notes: Does not reflect supplemental funding or offsetting receipts.
Central Valley Project Restoration Fund (which is offset by
customer receipts), and Policy and Administration.
“Earmarks” and Reclamation
FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
Reclamation’s Water and Related Resources account
consists largely of individual project funding lines. During
The Administration usually requests a lower amount for
the 112th-116th Congresses, Reclamation appropriations
Reclamation than the final enacted total of annual
were subject to general earmark moratoriums that restricted
appropriations. For FY2024, the President requested $1.45
Congress from funding geographically specific project line
billion in current budget authority (i.e., appropriations
items not requested by the Administration. Instead,
before offsets) for Reclamation. In the Consolidated
Congress included Additional Funding amounts for selected
Appropriations Act, FY2024 (P.L. 118-42), Congress
categories of Reclamation projects, typically in five
provided $1.9 billion for Reclamation ($310 million below
categories: Rural Water, Water Conservation and Delivery,
the FY2023 enacted level). Figure 1 shows recent
Environmental Restoration and Compliance, Fish
Reclamation annual appropriations levels (not including
Passage/Fish Screens, and Facilities Maintenance and
offsets or offsetting receipts).
Rehabilitation. The Administration allocated these funds for
specific projects in spend plans made available several
In addition to regular appropriations, Congress has provided
months after enactment of the appropriations bills. (Spend
Reclamation with supplemental appropriations that may
plans are available at http://www.usbr.gov/budget/.)
factor into FY2024 appropriations considerations. The
Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA; P.L. 117-58)
In FY2022, Congress included the first Member-requested
included $8.30 billion in supplemental appropriations for
“earmarks” since the 111th Congress. These funds were
various infrastructure-focused Reclamation expenditures.
categorized as community project funding (CPF) or
This funding is to be made available in equal installments
congressionally directed spending (CDS) in the House and
from FY2022 to FY2026 (i.e., $1.66 billion per year). P.L.
Senate, respectively. For FY2023, the explanatory
117-169 (popularly known as the Inflation Reduction Act of
statement for the enacted bill continued to include these
2022, or IRA) provided an additional $4.59 billion for
funds in recommendations for Reclamation, in addition to
Reclamation, including $4.00 billion for western drought
amounts designated as Additional Funding. In P.L. 118-42,
mitigation, with priority given to actions in the Colorado
Congress included $315 million in Additional Funding and
River Basin. IIJA funding is no year funding, meaning it
$54 million in CPF/CDS for FY2024 (Figure 2).
remains available until expended; IRA funding is to remain
available until FY2026 or FY2031, depending on the
provision. Reclamation has been gradually allocating IIJA
funding in spend plans for each fiscal year and is releasing
IRA funding on a rolling basis.
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Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
Figure 2. Additional Funding for Reclamation Projects
WaterSMART Program
in Annual Appropriations: FY2014-FY2024
Reclamation combines funding for six subprograms (many
(nominal $ in millions)
of them awarded as grants) that promote water conservation
into one program—the WaterSMART program. The largest
subprograms are WaterSMART Grants (i.e., water and
energy efficiency grants) and Title XVI projects (i.e., water
recycling and reuse projects). In P.L. 118-42, Congress
provided $140.5 million for Reclamation WaterSMART
programs in FY2024, a decrease of $46 million from the
FY2023 enacted amount (Figure 3).
Figure 3. WaterSMART Program Annual
Appropriations: FY2014-FY2024
(nominal $ in millions)
Sources: CRS, based on FY2014-FY2024 appropriations.
Notes: CPF/CDS = Community Project Funding/Congressional y
Directed Spending.
Reclamation Appropriations Issues
WIIN Act Section 4007 Funding
Section 4007 of the Water Infrastructure Improvements for
the Nation Act (WIIN Act; P.L. 114-322) authorized a new
process for Reclamation to study and construct federal and
nonfederal water storage projects. For projects to receive
Source: CRS, based on FY2014-FY2024 appropriations.
funding under Section 4007, first Congress appropriates
funds under this authority. Then the Administration
Additional Reading
recommends specific projects to fund and Congress would
CRS Report R47032, Bureau of Reclamation Provisions in
decide whether to approve these recommendations in
the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (P.L. 117-58)
enacted appropriations legislation.
CRS In Focus IF12437, Bureau of Reclamation Funding in
From FY2017 through FY2023, Congress provided $854
the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169)
million in regular appropriations for these projects.
Congress has approved Administration recommendations
CRS In Focus IF12414, Bureau of Reclamation
for 13 projects and $609 million of this funding in
WaterSMART Program
California, Washington, and Idaho. In July 2023, the
Administration requested that enacted FY2024
CRS Report R47987, Bureau of Reclamation Support for
appropriations approve an allocation of prior year funding
Water Storage Projects, by Charles V. Stern
for one project ($206 million for Sites Reservoir in
California). This recommendation was approved in P.L.
CRS Report R44148, Indian Water Rights Settlements
118-42. Congress also appropriated another $134 million
for future project allocations in the enacted bill.
Charles V. Stern, Specialist in Natural Resources Policy
IF12369
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Bureau of Reclamation: FY2024 Budget and Appropriations
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