General Info

The Bureau of Reclamation is governed by the Department of the Interior. The bureau is responsible for the management, development and protection of water and related resources in the United States. Established in 1902, the Bureau of Reclamation constructs dams, canals and power plants in several U.S. states. It has constructed more than 600 dams and reservoirs, including the Hoover Dam on the Colorado River and Grand Coulee on the Columbia River. The bureau is also one of the largest wholesalers of water and producers of hydroelectric power in the country. The Bureau of Reclamation designs and administers various programs, initiatives and activities to meet the water needs of the residents of the western United States and Native Americans.