83rd Annual

Wednesday, 12 February 2003: 3:59 PM
Overview of water resources research issues pertaining to the Bureau of Reclamation (Invited Presentation)
Shannon E. Cunniff, Bureau of Reclamation, Washington, DC
The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest wholesaler of water in the country. We bring water to more than 31 million people, and provide one out of five Western farmers with irrigation water for 10 million acres of farmland that produce 60% of the nation's vegetables and 25% of its fruits and nuts. Reclamation has constructed more than 600 dams and reservoirs and is also the second largest producer of hydroelectric power in the western United States. As a contemporary water management agency we help the Western States, Native American Tribes and others meet new water needs and balance the multitude of competing uses of water in the West. The Bureau of Reclamation's mission is to assist in meeting the increasing water demands of the West while protecting the environment and the public's investment in these structures. We place great emphasis on fulfilling our water delivery obligations and in finding ways to bring together the variety of interests to address the competing needs for our limited water resources. Reclamation's Research program focuses on developing and applying new science and technology to meet these needs. Research interests and priorities for supporting these interests will be discussed. Ongoing research endeavors related to modeling and decision support for planning and operations will be highlighted. Basic research questions and needs that support Reclamation's focus on applied research will also be addressed.

Supplementary URL: http://www.usbr.gov/research