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1 [1] (June 6, 2019)

handle is hein.crs/govzyt0001 and id is 1 raw text is: *' Congressional Research Service ~Informing the legislative debate since 1914 Updated June 6, 2019 Bureau of Reclamation: FY2020 Appropriations Overview Most of the large dams and water diversion structures in the 17 states west of the Mississippi River were built by, or with the assistance of, the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation), part of the Department of the Interior. Reclamation's original mission was to develop water supplies, primarily for irrigation to reclaim arid lands in the West. Today, its mission includes management, development, and protection of water and related resources. Reclamation's mission areas and geographic scope are generally narrower than those of the other principal federal water resource agency, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Today, Reclamation manages hundreds of water storage and conveyance projects. These projects provide water to approximately 10 million acres of farmland and 31 million people. Reclamation is the largest wholesale supplier of water in these 17 western states and the second-largest hydroelectric power producer in the nation. Operations of Reclamation facilities can be controversial, particularly in relation to effects on fish and wildlife species and conflicts among competing water users. Reclamation's role has evolved, and its focus has gradually shifted from construction of new water storage projects to operation and maintenance of existing projects. Reclamation has also expanded into new areas, including funding for water supply projects on tribal lands and in rural areas under congressionally authorized Indian water rights settlements and rural water supply projects, respectively. Congress has also authorized Reclamation grants to nonfederal projects, including those for water reuse and recycling, conservation and efficiency, and desalination. Reclamation's Water and Related Resources account funds most agency activities, including construction, operation and maintenance, dam safety, and ecosystem restoration. It also funds Indian water rights settlements and most Reclamation programmatic and grant authorities. Reclamation also typically requests funding for three smaller accounts: California Bay-Delta Restoration, the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund (the latter of which is offset by customer receipts), and the Policy and Administration account. FY2020 Budget The President's budget request for FY2020 proposed $1.11 billion in gross current authority for Reclamation. The House Appropriations Committee recommended $1.63 billion for Reclamation, which is $83 million above the FY2019 enacted level and $528 million above the budget request. Figure 1 shows recent appropriations levels for Reclamation compared to the FY2020 President's budget request and House recommendation. Figure I. Reclamation Appropriations by Account, FY2013-FY2020 House Recommendation (nominal $ in millions) $1,200 $900 $600 $300 FY13 FY14 FY15 FY16 Y17 FY18 Fy19 FY20 2 Rep HuS, R-c IN Calif orn a B.y- elta Policy and Adm nistratlon Water and Related Resources Fiscal Year Source: CRS, based on Reclamation budget request and enacted appropriations data. Notes: Does not reflect offsetting receipts for the Central Valley Project Restoration Fund (CVPRF). Earmarks and Reclamation The Water and Related Resources account is made up largely of individual project funding lines. These projects have been subject to recent earmark moratoriums that restrict the addition of funding for geographically specific project line-items that the Administration did not request. In lieu of these additions, since FY2014 Congress has included additional funding in appropriations bills beyond the President's budget request for selected categories of Reclamation projects. These funds are typically allocated in work plans produced by the Administration and made available several months after appropriations bills have been enacted (these plans are available at http://www.usbr.gov/budget/). Recent enacted appropriations bills continued the practice of providing additional funds to be allocated in a work plan. Congress appropriated $387 million in addition to the President's FY2019 budget request. For FY2020, the House recommendation proposes $401 million to fund projects in the following categories: rural water ($121 million); water conservation and delivery ($225 million); environmental restoration or compliance ($40 million); and facilities operation, maintenance, and rehabilitation ($4 million). Additional funding amounts for Reclamation in recent enacted Energy and Water appropriations bills are shown in Figure 2. https:i/crsreports congress go,

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