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Bureau of Reclamation

Mission Statement

Facts About the Bureau of Reclamation

The Bureau of Reclamation has recently received national recognition for redirecting its mission from being a world-class developer of water projects toward becoming a world class manager of water, land, biological and cultural resources.

The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest wholesale supplier of water in the 17 Western States, delivering 10 trillion gallons of water annually for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and domestic uses. Reclamation is the nation's sixth largest electric utility with 52 power plants in operation. Its multi- purpose projects also provide flood control, recreational, and fish and wildlife benefits for the public.

The principles of the National Performance Review have been aggressively implemented in Reclamation since early 1993. A new mission, a streamlined organization with reduced levels of review, and fewer regulations have resulted in quicker and more responsive services to Reclamation customers.

The New Mission

The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation is to manage, develop, and protect water and related resources in an environmental and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public. The agency's program emphasis is on water conservation and reuse, environmental protection and restoration, and expansion of its customer base beyond agricultural interests to include rural and urban water users, Native American tribes, the environmental community, and recreationists.

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