U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

US Department of the Interior

1849 C Street, NW

Washington, DC 20240

http://www.doi.gov/water2025

Hoover Dam
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

the initiative as an approach that will unite, not divide, 

very divergent interests

This report provides a summary of the achievements of 

the Water 2025 program since the time it was initiated, 

in the spring of 2003. Additionally, this report provides 

an overview of the framework and objectives of the 

Water 2025 program, summarized in the following Six 

Principles, Five Realities and Four Key Tools. Updates 

to this report will be provided on an annual basis.

Water 2025

Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton has made 

Water 2025 a key focus for the Department of 

the Interior because water truly is the “lifeblood” 

of the American West. Water 2025 is based 

on the reality that the economic, social, and 

environmental health of the West is important 

to the people of this nation. Water 2025 is also 

based on the reality that the demands for water 

in many basins of the West exceed the available 

supply even in normal years. 

When combined with the fact that the West is 

home to some of the fastest growing communities 

in the nation, these realities guarantee that water 

supply crises will become more frequent if we do 

not act now. In the past century water crises were 

intense but typically occurred in drought years; 

they only affected resources and economies of 

local and regional importance. Now, however, if we do 

not act soon, water supply-related crises will affect 

economies and resources of national and international 

importance.

Water 2025 was “road-tested” by the 3000 people who 

attended the ten meetings held throughout the West in 

the summer of 2003. The bottom line is that while there 

was a signifi cant debate over what should or should not 

be added to Water 2025, almost all participants endorsed 

“I have initiated what I call the Four Cs as the cornerstone 

of my tenure: Conservation through Cooperation, Communication, 

and Consultation. At the heart of the Four Cs is the belief 

that for conservation to be successful, the government must 

involve the people who live and work on the land.”

Gale A. Norton

Secretary of the Interior

American River, CA
WATER 2025 2 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

Water 2025

Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

Water 2025 sets forth a framework to focus on meeting water supply 

challenges in the future. This framework includes:

◆ Six Principles to guide Interior in addressing water problems.

◆ Five Realities that drive water crises.

◆ Four Key Tools to help proactively manage scarce water resources.

Water 2025 is based on principles that must be recognized if we are to 

minimize or avoid water supply related crises. 

 Water 2025 Principles

1. Recognize and respect state, tribal, and federal water rights, contracts, and interstate 

compacts or decrees of the United States Supreme Court that allocate the right to use water. 

2. Maintain and modernize existing water facilities so they will continue to provide water 

 and power. 

3. Enhance water conservation, use effi ciency, and resource monitoring to allow existing water 

supplies to be used more effectively. 

4. Use collaborative approaches and market based transfers to minimize confl icts.

5. Improve water treatment technology, such as desalination, to help increase water supply.

6. Existing water supply infrastructure can provide additional benefi ts for existing and emerging 

needs for water.

Water 2025 is based on realities that will shape, if not control, policy level 

water supply decisions over the next 25 years.

 Water 2025 Realities

1. Explosive population growth in areas of the West where water is already scarce.

2. Water shortages occur frequently in the West.

3. Over-allocated watersheds can cause crisis and confl ict.

4. Water facilities are aging.

5. Crisis management is not effective in dealing with water confl icts.
WATER 2025 3 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

The “Potential Water Supply Crises by 2025,” commonly known as the Hot Spot Illustration, 

was used to begin a dialogue with the States and others in the West on the water supply crises 

that many areas in the West will likely face in the future. Reclamation looked at data such as 

hydrologic conditions, weather patterns, endangered species locations, and population growth 

trends, and then identifi ed where they appeared to converge. These areas became identifi ed as 

the ‘hot spots’ in the West.
WATER 2025 4 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

Water 2025 proposes not rhetoric, but pragmatic, reality-based tools that have 

been tested in the crucible of the real world.

 Water 2025 Tools

1. Conservation, Effi ciency, and Markets The increased use of simple tools like 

water measurement structures, automated control structures, and computer-based system 

monitoring can allow water users either to stretch their water supplies further or to make 

part of their supplies available on a willing seller-willing buyer basis for otherwise unmet 

demands. Explosive population growth and the emergence of the demand for water for 

environmental restoration and attainment of the goals of the Endangered Species Act will 

typically defi ne the extent and severity of water supply-related confl icts. The experience of 

the Klamath basin in 2001 provides an example of the consequences of attempting to use 

regulatory mechanisms to reallocate water from existing uses to emerging needs. 

 The value of market-based approaches as an alternative is proven by the success of CalFed, 

the new Klamath water bank, the operation of the Central Valley Project in California, 

 the ag-to-urban transfers in Southern California, and the 50 year-old water market in 

Northern Colorado.

2. Collaboration When it comes to water, people, farms, and the environment all need 

certainty in order to plan for and meet long-term objectives. Endless litigation rarely, if ever, 

achieves this goal. 

3. Technology In some areas, demands on limited surface water supplies can be reduced 

through the development of alternative water supplies. A range of alternative water 

supply technologies exists, including desalination and advanced water treatment. While 

these technologies are important, Interior has chosen to focus on seawater and brackish 

groundwater desalination because other agencies have a more important role and greater 

expertise in the development and implementation of the other technologies. In addition, 

brackish water desalination may provide cost-effective alternatives throughout the West to 

develop rural drinking water systems by Interior.

4. Remove Institutional Barriers and Increase Interagency Cooperation In some 

instances, western water that might otherwise be available is unavailable due to existing 

policy or legal constraints. Analysis of institutional barriers may determine whether agency 

policy revisions or legislative changes might alleviate some impediments toward resolving 

water confl icts. Cooperation among federal agencies can help focus federal dollars and 

resources to better manage supplies in water short areas. 
WATER 2025 5 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

In her opening remarks at the conference on June 6, 

2003, Secretary Norton outlined the purpose of Water 

2025 as a process aimed at expanding the dialog on ways 

to prevent the chronic water supply problems facing 

many communities in the coming decades. 

The Denver conference was the fi rst of ten consulting 

sessions in Western cities aimed at widening the 

discussion on ways to prevent the chronic water supply 

problems facing many communities in the coming 

decades. It brought together approximately threehundred people, including leaders in water management 

and policy representing diverse interests and 

backgrounds, including government, agriculture, tribes, 

environmental organizations, and legal experts. 

“Because of chronic water supply problems

 and persistent drought that has 

plagued the West, federal fi nancial 

and technical resources are being 

concentrated in key Western watersheds.” 

Mark Rey

Under Secretary for Natural 

Resources and Environment 

USDA

Water 2025 Remarks – 6/6/03

Many top government offi cials participated in the 

conference, including Colorado Governor Bill Owens; 

USDA Undersecretary for Natural Resources and the 

Environment Mark Rey; Interior Assistant Secretary 

Bennett Raley; Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner 

John Keys; and New Mexico Attorney General Patricia 

Madrid. 

After the opening remarks, representatives of key 

interest groups took part in discussion panels that 

covered a wide range of topics and issues. Those 

Testing Water 2025

The Denver Water 2025 Conference

participating in panels included Karl Dreher, Idaho 

Department of Water Resources, who represented the 

Western States Water Council; Greg Walcher, Colorado 

Department of Natural Resources; Ron Gastelum, 

Metropolitan Water District; Chips Barry, Denver Water 

Board; and Rita Maguire, Arizona Center for Public 

Policy.

A broad range of topics was presented by the panelists, 

addressing state and local perspectives, approaches 

to resolving confl ict, and getting beyond crisis 

management.

“Water 2025 emphasizes solving problems 

through mutual understanding and 

agreements instead of looking for ways 

to assert an increased federal presence.”

Gale A. Norton

Secretary of the Interior

Water 2025 Opening Remarks 
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

6

Discussions on fi nding approaches to resolving confl ict 

brought in Mike Applegate, Northern Colorado Water 

Conservancy District; Dan Luecke, Environment and 

Water Resources Consultant; Rod Lewis, Gila River 

Indian Community; and John Sullivan, National Water 

Resources Association. 

Speakers emphasized that government agencies and 

water users need to cooperate in evaluating water 

policies affecting city, agricultural and recreational water 

users. They called on efforts that focus on conservation, 

water market fl exibility, improving existing reservoirs 

and the possibility of building new storage. 

The idea behind Water 2025 is to help launch local, 

collaborative efforts to stretch existing water supplies 

and solve decades-old water confl icts among states, 

Indian tribes, farmers and environmental groups. 
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

7

discussions. The consultation 

sessions were interactive, 

providing a unique 

opportunity to hear directly 

from citizens who have a 

vested interest in Western 

water issues.

A number of themes were 

repeated throughout all 

the consulting sessions. 

For example, it was 

noted that Water 2025

reinforces the idea that 

open communication and cooperation among diverse 

interest groups is needed to avoid confl ict and continuing 

litigation in the mostly arid West. Water 2025 was 

universally seen as promoting a collaborative process 

that can divert special interests from using the courts as 

the fi rst alternative to problem solving.

“Those interested in water often have 

more in common than differences . . .”

Tom Libby

Chairman, Oklahoma Chapter 

of the Sierra Club

Keeping local decisions at the local level was a 

continuing message from participants, who felt that 

policy decisions made outside their respective state or 

region may not always be appropriate or applicable to 

the challenges they face. Water 2025 was welcomed 

throughout the West as a process to develop partnerships 

that can lead to success in managing a broad range 

of water interests including irrigators, municipal and 

industrial, environmental, recreation, educational, water 

rights, water quality, regulation, scientifi c research, land 

use, and every level of government.

Not one of the seventeen 

Western states is like the 

other; however, they all have 

something in common – 

rapidly growing economies, 

contentious environmental 

issues, exploding population 

growth, and the reality of a 

fi nite amount of water. 

Following the Denver 

conference, Interior 

conducted nine regional 

Water 2025 consulting 

sessions across the West during July and August 2003, 

in an attempt to address confl icting needs in areas where 

water resources are already stressed.. These conferences 

underscored the message that meeting future water 

challenges in order to sustain the West’s quality of life 

must begin with local participation.

More than 3,000 people, representing a cross section 

of interests, affi liations, and political backgrounds, 

attended the sessions, which were held in Phoenix, 

Las Vegas, Sacramento, Salt Lake City, Boise, Billings, 

Albuquerque, and Austin. The U.S. Geological Survey 

hosted the fi nal meeting, a Science and Technological 

Workshop, in Denver in November 2003.

Although each location had issues unique to its region, 

the overall message was that water is a fi nite resource 

requiring a balanced, local approach to meet the 

challenges ahead. 

Each session followed a similar format, bringing in 

elected offi cials and distinguished panelists who 

represented every aspect of water management or use – 

farmers, ranchers and other irrigators, tribes, environmental interests, and all levels of government – 

to engage participants in a series of open and frank 

Regional Consulting Conferences

Local Solutions to Local Challenges
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

8

In Sacramento, it was accepted that effective and 

equitable water management in California and nearby 

States is a daunting task, but that viable and long-lasting 

solutions may be found by matching the task with the 

proper tools in Water 2025. 

“In the past, winning and losing was an option, 

but when stakes are so high, 

winning and losing isn’t an option . . . 

We need to try to fi nd a friendlier way.”

Ane Deister

General Manager

El Dorado Irrigation District

The value of maintaining existing Reclamation storage 

projects was an essential point of discussion. Many 

participants called for fl exible approaches in water 

management, conceding that a one-size fi ts-all approach 

will not work on many local levels. Nevertheless, 

farmers, ranchers, irrigators, and municipalities 

repeatedly raised the need for new water storage to meet 

these currently unmet demands. 

While overall welcoming 

and supportive of the 

concepts behind Water 

2025, representatives 

of the environmental 

community consistently 

rejected this idea of 

new storage, instead 

urging conservation 

and redirection of water 

usage. 

The agricultural community also was very concerned 

about the transfer of water away from growing crops to 

other municipal or environmental uses, especially on a 

permanent basis. Permanent transfers of water rights to 

other uses can negatively affect entire communities, both 

socially and economically. 

Water 2025 occupies the middle ground in this debate, 

focusing on what can be done now to alleviate growing 

confl icts and crises over water rather than on all that 

cannot be done, whether because of disagreement of 

interested parties or due to institutional barriers to 

change. 

During the Salt Lake City session, the Bonneville Unit 

Pilot Project was cited as an example of a collaborative 

approach that worked in Reclamation’s Upper Colorado 

Region, where conservation, education and improved 

technology are important components in stretching 

limited water resources.

In arid and drought-ridden New Mexico, population 

growth and the threat of water emergencies brought the 

call for policy makers 

to prioritize the limited 

water resources among 

confl icting interests. 

The requirements of the 

Endangered Species Act 

in dealing with silvery 

minnow habitat along 

the Rio Grande River 

were seen as contentious 

for all parties in New 

Mexico. 

This four-gate diversion structure was retrofi tted with an automation system 

that is solar-powered.
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

9

“We need to set up a process where all are 

at the table, all heard, all listen, and at the end 

a decision is made that is binding. We need a 

process that people have faith in, believe in, 

and where they are held to the outcome.”

James McClure

Former U.S. Senator (R-Idaho)

Boise, Idaho, participants 

indicated that adjudication 

of water rights would 

help prevent problems 

such as those faced 

in Oregon’s Klamath 

Basin. Completing the 

adjudication process and 

resolving tribal claims 

were seen as essential for 

avoiding crisis.

Water 2025’s suggestions 

for new research and 

technologies, particularly 

in the area of desalination, 

were considered by most 

– particularly tribes – to 

be positive. Affordable 

desalination can provide 

potable water in more 

remote rural areas. New technologies can make the 

process cheaper than trying to move available water long 

distances. 

A representative of the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the 

Rocky Boys Reservation in Montana indicated that 

Tribes need a level playing fi eld and collaboration for 

water management that benefi ts all. As the Tribe grows, 

so too does its need for water.

In Austin, Texas, the message from irrigation districts, 

government agencies, private businesses, and 

environmental groups matched the tenor of those miles 

away, in that water policy should be focused on supply, 

effi cient practices, and innovative fi nancing tools.

On November 4, 2003, the 

U.S. Geological Survey and 

the Bureau of Reclamation 

hosted the Water 2025 Science 

and Technology Workshop, 

which brought together 

200 participants, including 

scientists representing a 

variety of water management 

agencies, environmental 

organizations, and several 

universities. 

Workshop participants voiced 

concern about future water 

management challenges, but 

in general approved of the 

process put forth by Water 

2025. Using a scientifi c 

approach to address such 

issues is considered a central 

element when applying practical policy changes and key 

to preventing crises and confl ict in the future. 

While there predictably was not universal agreement 

among participants about the details, Water 2025 was 

enthusiastically received even by those groups that 

normally are bitter opponents in the modern West’s 

water confl icts. All participants saw the initiative’s 

proposals as solid fi rst steps in reaching reasonable and 

workable compromises in areas where water supplies are 

over-allocated or simply not suffi cient. The high level 

of participation at every meeting, and the large amount 

of news media coverage, demonstrate not only the need, 

but also the desire for an end to confl ict over this most 

precious of resources. 
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

10

With a drought of historic proportions bearing down on 

large portions of the settled West, Water 2025 gained 

national, regional and local news coverage that provided 

a balanced view of the struggles facing the Department 

of the Interior in establishing a meaningful dialogue 

among interest groups to fi nd workable solutions for 

future water needs in the West.

“If the West were still sparsely settled, 

the severity of the drought would be serious 

enough. Now, the drought is bearing down 

on an enormous number of people... ” 

New York Times 6/2/03

Water 2025

Broad Media Coverage Outlined the Work Ahead 

The Associated Press fi rst reported news about Water 

2025 in late February 2003 in a national news piece 

nearly three months ahead of Secretary Norton’s 

offi cial announcement. The AP article, headlined 

“Interior secretary working on ways to ease water 

confl icts,”reported on the President’s FY 2004 budget 

rollout.

Print and broadcast media continued to follow Water 

2025 with constructive reporting that offered some 

critical observations on the immense task at hand along 

with some more positive tones. Coverage continued 

from February through November with guest editorials 

authored by Secretary Norton and Reclamation 

Commissioner John Keys in several newspapers in 

the West. 
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

11

“Water 2025 can signifi cantly stretch the 

West’s water supply and resolve confl icts that 

prevent the most effi cient use of water... 

somehow California must liberate itself 

from old water feuds and develop the 

calmer tools Norton has proposed.”

Los Angeles Times 6/10/03

Key decision-makers and administrative policy 

representatives participated in numerous editorial board 

meetings throughout the West.

The media centered on points on both sides of water 

management and the proposals brought forth by Water 

2025. More than thirty stories appeared throughout the 

West, beginning with a front page story in USA Today on 

May 2. Water 2025 proceeded to be a top story in some 

locations until the Denver kickoff conference in June.

“The Bush administration will unveil an 

initiative next week that would put the 

federal government in the lead role in trying 

to avert water shortages among some of the 

fastest-growing areas in the arid Western States.” 

USA Today 05/2/03 

Additional stories appeared in The Sacramento Bee, 

Albuquerque Journal, Rocky Mountain News, 

The Idaho Statesman, Deseret News, Las Vegas Sun, 

Omaha World-Herald, Albuquerque Tribune, Fresno 

Bee, Salt Lake Tribune, The Los Angeles Times and 

The New York Times. These papers featured the stories of 

threatened water and scarcity, and Interior’s promise to 

provide leadership.

During each of the regional consulting conferences 

and the Science and Technology Workshop, a press 

availability was offered that presented additional 

media opportunities. The coverage was widespread and 

uniformly positive. 

The print and broadcast media coverage of the Water 

2025 initiative since February 2003 was thorough and 

in-depth. Interior offi cials and Reclamation representatives at local and national offi ces responded both in 

public forums and editorial board meetings for nearly 

nine months.

In the fi nal analysis, the news coverage has included 

well over 100 news stories and editorials nationwide.

A Central Arizona Project lined canal
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

12

 “TU appreciates Interior’s explicit recognition 

of the tremendous opportunity that improving 

facilities, effi ciency, and operations at the 

Bureau of Reclamation projects for 

meeting the demands of the growing Western 

population, including for healthier streams 

and ecosystems. We agree with several of 

the underlying principles of Water 2025.” 

Charles F. Gauvin

President and Chief Executive 

Offi cer, Trout Unlimited 

Letter: June 2, 2003

About one-hundred replies to Water 2025 were received 

in the form of written correspondence and email 

responses. Although the vast majority of reactions were 

favorable, there were responses that questioned the 

validity of Water 2025.

Responses came in from Members of Congress, State 

lawmakers, environmental organizations, irrigation 

districts, water management associations, and private 

citizens. Taken as a whole, the written comments 

submitted about Water 2025 were refl ective of the 

makeup of attendees at the consultation sessions.

Water 2025

Feedback
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

13

of existing water supplies. Performance measures are 

included in each grant in order to gage the success of the 

projects. Performance measures include: 

◆ Conserved water contributes toward 

established or new water markets or banks.

◆ Amount of water conserved, measured, 

managed and tracked through new water 

measurement/management technologies 

versus total water diverted. 

◆ Reasonableness of costs for the 

 benefi ts gained. 

◆ Number of non-Reclamation partners 

 (e.g. state, city, other federal, or interest 

group) involved. 

◆ Demonstrates innovative approach 

to water conservation and water 

management. 

◆ Demonstrates stakeholder involvement 

and acceptance, and is likely to result in 

reduced confl ict through contributions to 

collaborative efforts.

Water 2025

Moving Forward

The feedback from States, tribes and the public who 

attended the consulting conferences or provided input 

in other ways presented an opportunity to step back and 

examine how Water 2025 can play an important role in 

meeting water supply challenges, now and in the future.

Even as answers continue to be sought, Water 2025

will continue to facilitate the dialog needed to help 

civic leaders, farmers, conservationists, and citizens 

in the areas such as those identifi ed on the “Hot Spot” 

illustration [Potential Water Supply Crises by 2025, 

May 2003 shown on page 3] on the situation that 

their communities are likely to face over future water 

supplies. 

Water 2025 is off to a good start with $8.4 million in 

FY 2004 for the Western Water Initiative, the initial 

step to Water 2025; $19.5 million in FY 2005; and the 

President’s request of $30 million in FY 2006. 

The Challenge Grant Program is focused on achieving 

the goals identifi ed in Water 2025, particularly in water 

conservation, effi ciency and markets, and collaboration. 

Emphasis is on projects that can be completed within 

twenty-four months.

In many cases, implementation and installation of 

new water conservation and effi ciency improvements 

through cooperative partnerships will result in an 

increased ability to met otherwise confl icting demands 

for water. Where allowed by State and federal law, 

implementation and use of water banks and water 

markets as mechanisms for preserving irrigated 

agriculture, while meeting other existing water supply 

needs, will also stretch water supplies in areas facing 

water shortages.

Through the Challenge Grant Program, Reclamation 

awards grants through a competitive process that 

provides incentives for states and local entities who 

will create water markets and make more effi cient use 

Lake Mead
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

14

This Challenge Grant Program, administered through the 

Bureau of Reclamation, sought proposals from irrigation 

and water districts to make more effi cient use of existing 

water supplies through water conservation, effi ciency 

and water market projects. 

The Bureau of Reclamation received more than 

one-hundred proposals representing over $98 million 

in water delivery system improvements across the West. 

Of that, the federal share requested was more than 

$25 million, with the rest made up by matching funds 

from non-federal sources such as irrigation and 

water districts.

Examples of ways to stretch limited water 

supplies through the Water 2025 program 

include:

◆ Providing irrigators and other water 

users the opportunity to rent, lease 

or sell water for agricultural or urban 

uses with the water right remaining in 

agriculture.

◆ Developing water accounts that can 

provide a mechanism for willing 

buyers to purchase water from willing 

sellers in order to meet important 

ecological restoration goals or other 

specifi c goals and objectives that would 

avoid or reduce water confl icts.

◆ Retrofi tting and modernizing existing 

facilities to improve water management 

through the use of new technologies can 

conserve additional water. Technology 

includes automating control structures 

with associated telemetry equipment for 

off-site control, and water management 

programs such as SCADA (Supervisory 

Control and Data Acquisition) to remotely 

monitor and operate key river and canal 

facilities.

◆ Realizing water savings and corresponding 

increases in available water supplies 

by lining currently unlined canals or 

converting open canals to pipeline. 

◆ Installing new measuring devices that 

would allow water supplies to be more 

accurately measured and accounted will 

likely result in more effi cient water use.

With the support of Congress in the FY 2004 Budget and 

in keeping with the spirit of her 4Cs. Secretary Norton 

designated $4.0 million to the Secretary’s Water 2025

Challenge Grant Program in November 2003. 

Taylor Park Dam, CO

“This response underscores the signifi cance 

of Water 2025 to Western water users and proves 

the success of the Challenge Grant concept. 

It demonstrates a widespread eagerness to work 

collaboratively to improve the way water is 

managed across the West and address local needs. 

These conservation improvements will 

help prevent crises and confl icts over our 

limited water resources in the region”

Gale A. Norton

Secretary of the Interior
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

15

The nineteen projects selected are located in ten states. The total investment for all projects 

selected for grants is more than $29 million, which includes the matching contributions of 

non-federal partners. These entities will now work with Reclamation to secure a cooperative 

agreement and complete the regulatory processes. Groundbreaking on the projects began in 

the fall of 2004, and work is expected to be completed in October, 2006, twenty-four months 

from the date that the grants were awarded. 

A complete list of the nineteen projects by state follows.
WATER 2025 16 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

ARIZONA

Gila Gravity Main Canal Board

In partnership with the City of Yuma and NAD Bank, the 

Board will make canal system improvements to conserve 

water, restore canal capacity and improve operation effi ciency. 

Five irrigation districts, the City of Yuma and other domestic 

water users will benefi t from the project. Improvements 

include sealing canals at high seepage points and removing 

sediment from the Gila Main Gravity Canal. Additional work 

includes installing a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition 

(SCADA) system, a complex system to control a canal system 

by providing more precise measurement and remote control 

of fl ow rates and water levels. Resulting savings will be about 

45,000 acre-feet of water per year. The conserved water will be 

available for other Colorado River users. The total project cost 

is $2,207,775 with a Water 2025 contribution of $284,000.

Yuma County Water Users Association, Yuma

The Association will expand a Supervisory Control and Data 

Acquisition (SCADA) system and implement a new water 

tracking and water accounting system. The project also 

includes reconstruction of key diversion structures along the 

main canal that will facilitate remote control of water fl ows 

and levels. This modernization will reduce diversions from 

the Colorado River and provide an overall savings in water 

diversions of 12,000-20,000 acre-feet per year. The total 

project cost is $615,552, with a Water 2025 contribution 

of $246,221.

Water loss in unlined canals

Today most irrigation water delivery canals (top) in the 

West are not lined. Reclamation’s research has shown 

that a return of $3 to $5 in conserved water can be 

possible for every $1 spent on canal modernization.

Before (left) 

and after (right) 

automation of 

headgate
WATER 2025 17 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

CALIFORNIA

Calleguas Municipal Water District, Thousand Oaks The District will install automated monitoring 

devices to twenty-three water distributors to allow the District to implement new rate structures. These 

devices will improve distribution during peak demand and will encourage more effi cient water use, conserve 

water and manage local groundwater supplies in concert with imported water. The District covers an area 

of approximately 350 square miles in Ventura County. Communities served include the cities of Oxnard, 

Camarillo, Thousand Oaks, Simi Valley, Moorpark, and Port Hueneme, as well as Oak Park, Santa Rose 

Valley, Bell Canyon, Lake Sherwood, Somis,Camarillo Estates, and Camarillo Heights. This project will 

reduce demand on the Metropolitan Water District and the Colorado River, resulting in a savings of 5,500 

acre-feet per year. The total project cost is $3,395,442 with a Water 2025 contribution of $300,000.

Contra Costa Water District, Concord The District will install 2,100 feet of pipe in the Contra Costa 

Canal to isolate drinking water from agricultural saline ground water seepage. The canal conveys drinking 

water to 450,000 residents and vital industries in Contra Costa County. This project provides benefi ts 

statewide as well as for local stakeholders. The project will improve the ability of the Central Valley Project 

to meet established Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta water quality standards because of long-standing local 

degradation on this reach of the canal. Water savings will range from 9,000 to 34,000 acre-feet per year, 

depending on the water supply conditions. This amounts to a savings of an average of $1.4 million each year. 

The total project cost is $9,132,716, with a Water 2025 contribution of $200,000. 

Imperial Irrigation District, El Centro The District will strategically place four fl ow meter stations 

along the All American Canal to improve monitoring of delivery water, particularly during high and low 

fl ow periods. The four stations will measure fl ow into the Imperial Valley, and at the diversions to Mexico 

and Coachella Valley. This project will result in these three areas receiving the proper allotment of water 

necessary for agricultural, municipal and industrial uses. Newly measured and accounted-for supply will 

result in more effi cient distribution of water, reducing demand on the Colorado River and saving 34,500 

acre-feet per year. The total project cost is $230,452, with a Water 2025 contribution of $115,226.

Stevinson Water District, Merced The District will 

replace 23,067 feet of open canals with pipe to control 

high water tables fed by seepage, water conservation, 

improved delivery fl exibility and reduction on operational 

spillage. Increased measurements and improved system 

responsiveness will enhance irrigation service and is 

expected to result in further water conservation. The project 

will save approximately 1,155 acre-feet per year, which may 

be sold to Reclamation for the San Luis National Wildlife 

Refuge. The total project cost is $1,556,500, with a Water 

2025 contribution of $300,000. Stevinson Water District - dirt canal to be replaced 

by pipeline.
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

18

COLORADO

Mancos Water Conservancy District, Mancos

This project will test the effectiveness of different materials 

for canal lining on 300 feet of the Jackson Gulch Inlet Canal. 

The inlet canal is the only source of water into Jackson Gulch 

Reservoir. The water users who depend on the reservoir 

include agricultural communities in the surrounding area, 

the town of Mancos and Mesa Verde National Park. Lining 

the canal will provide the District with 10-15 percent more 

water, easing tensions between domestic and agricultural 

users. The total project cost is $41,082, with a Water 2025

contribution of $19,338.

Lower South Platte Water Conservancy District

The District will directly reimburse individuals, or groups, up to 50 percent towards the purchase and 

installation of fl ow measuring devices for large-scale wells, recharge facilities or ditch diversions within the 

District boundaries. Over 10,000 acre-feet pumped per year is estimated to be inaccurately accounted for. 

The water that is accurately quantifi ed and replaced to the South Platte River can be used by all surface 

water users. The total project cost is $1,129,079 with a Water 2025 contribution of $300,000.

Mancos Water Conservancy District

MONTANA

Paradise Valley Irrigation District, Chinook

The District will replace 9,000 feet of leaky hillside canal 

with a pressure pipeline system, conserving 1,000 acre-feet 

per year of water. It will be one of the fi rst in the area and a 

signifi cant improvement over the old system. This project 

will conserve water for the District by eliminating seepage in 

the canal and improve operation and control in the main canal. 

Effi ciency levels will nearly be 100 percent with the new 

pipeline system, compared to the current effi ciency rate of 

40-45 percent. Irrigation seasons will be extended during 

drought years by making more use of the water that is 

available. The total project cost is $524,215, with a Water 

2025 contribution of $262,107. 

Paradise Valley Irrigation District

Hillside ditch lateral to be replaced by buried pipe.
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

19

NEVADA

Truckee Carson Irrigation District and City of Fernly

This project will improve the control of the Gilpin Spill 

structure by automating gate changes through installation 

of remote-controlled gates and telemetry at one location on 

the Truckee Canal. This project will allow the District to 

make more frequent and timelier changes to meet its demand 

more accurately, thus reducing the amount of water diverted 

from the Truckee River. The saved water – approximately 

3,000 acre-feet per year – will fl ow downstream and enhance 

instream fl ows or be stored upstream to meet future needs. 

The total project cost is $300,000, with a Water 2025

contribution of $150,000.

Upper Klamath Lake, OR

NEW MEXICO

San Juan River Dineh Water Users, Inc., Shiprock

The project will convert three lateral ditches to underground pipelines, 

potentially saving 5,600 acre-feet each year for other water users on the main 

canal. Converting all three lateral ditches into underground pipeline will improve 

equitable water distribution, increase conveyance effi ciency, allow farmers to 

pursue new irrigation technologies, reduce demand on the San Juan River and 

reduce operation and maintenance costs. The total project cost is $751,000, 

with a Water 2025 contribution of $200,000. 

Typical canal section near start of lateral, NM
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

20

OREGON

Central Oregon Irrigation District, Bend

This project involves numerous partners – seven 

irrigation districts, six cities, three tribes and the 

Deschutes Resource Conservancy. The project 

addresses long-term basin water needs by establishing 

a pilot water bank, with a long-term potential 

savings of up to 326,522 acre-feet a year. The project 

demonstrates collective partnering of basin interests 

and addresses many institutional constraints. The total 

cost of the project is $588,750, with a Water 2025

contribution of $233,750.

Farmers Irrigation District, Hood River

The District will improve its water delivery system by replacing 8.6 miles of open canals with high quality 

piping, thus conserving an average of 40 percent of current water usage over the course of the season. 

The project will market saved water (1,500-3,500 acre-feet per year) for instream use in a fi sh habitat area. 

The total cost of the project is $6,382,973, with a Water 2025 contribution of $300,000.

Medford Irrigation District, Medford

The District proposes an innovative approach to address water shortages for irrigation and instream uses by 

replacing 2,500 feet of an antiquated, open canal with 66-inch pipeline. This project will save 94 acre-feet per 

year, improve delivery effi ciency and reduce maintenance costs. It also will remove three fi sh passage barriers 

and open up three miles of historic steelhead trout habitat area. The total cost of the project is $602,032, with 

a Water 2025 contribution of $300,000.

TEXAS

Harlingen Irrigation District, Harlingen

The District will purchase and install 225 on-farm delivery site 

meters for more precise water measurement and effi cient water 

delivery. The saved water – 3,464 acre-feet per year – will enable 

continued farming during droughts and increase the length of the 

irrigation season. On-farm metering will help the District achieve 

its goal of 100 percent volumetric pricing of water delivered to its 

users. The total cost of the project is $602,500, with a Water 2025

Solar-powered automated headgate contribution of $300,000.

Medford Irrigation District - installation of pipeline.
WATER 2025 21 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

UTAH

Emery Water Conservancy District, Castle Dale

The District will install automatic remote controls at three dams and automate diversions on four creeks in 

the Green River Basin. The devices will be integrated with existing SCADA software. The District also will 

install measuring weirs, upgrade weather stations and establish an online irrigation advisory program. Water 

savings are estimated to be between 10 and 20 percent. The total cost of the project is $535,520, with a Water 

2025 contribution of $257,910.

Provo River Water Users Association, 

Pleasant Grove

The Association will meter, control and screen 

improvements to the existing Beaver Creek Diversion 

structure and canal improvements to the Weber-Provo 

Canal. This project will result in the conservation of 

approximately 4,200 acre feet each year and a savings 

of $2,500 per year in operations and maintenance 

costs. The total cost of the project is $426,203 with a 

Water 2025 contribution of $150,000.

Springville Irrigation District, Springville

The District will replace an open lateral in Provo 

County, with 550 feet of pipe to reduce seepage. It also will construct a new diversion structure and install a 

measuring weir to reduce water loss. The project will save 220 acre-feet per year and possibly benefi t the 

June sucker, an endangered fi sh. The total cost of the project is $58,000, with a Water 2025 contribution 

of $29,000.

Original control gates on Langley turnout structure 

on Noble Ditch near Fruitland, ID

Structure was automated (right) to maintain desired 

canal fl ows. This helps operators monitor operations 

and reduce operational spills and shortages.

Emery Water Conservancy District - installation of 

automation equipment.
WATER 2025 22 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

WYOMING

Casper-Alcova Irrigation District, Casper 

The District will replace a portion of unlined canal with 

6,508 feet of PVC pipe and install new head gates, valves 

and fl ow measurement devices to save approximately 

490 acre-feet per year. When fi nished, the project will 

potentially conserve 31.7 percent of the total available 

water in the two lateral systems and substantially reduce 

operating and maintenance costs. The District intends 

to market the water savings as it has done in the past. 

The total cost of the project is $502,189, with a Water 2025

contribution of $232,215.

Agriculture near Ashton, ID – Minidoka Project

Canal lining

Automated diversions

Automated diversion in to 7-mile Slough, a natural 

side-channel of the Payette River used to convey 

irrigation water to a number of irrigation diversions. 

Structure was built in the 1930’s. New measurement 

fl ume (bottom) was constructed to provide accurate 

measurement for control and accounting.
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

23

Of the $8.4 million appropriated for Reclamation’s Water 2025 program in Fiscal Year 2004, Congress directed 

about half to be invested in targeted areas and projects like the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District in 

New Mexico, the Desert Research Institute in Nevada, and the Ohio View Consortium in Ohio. 

Improving Technology

Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District 

in New Mexico

$1,750,000 was directed by Congress to improve and 

modernize irrigation surface water conveyance facilities 

of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District to 

increase water conveyance effi ciency, reduce system 

losses due to seepage and evaporation, and improve 

water management in the middle Rio Grande Valley. 

This system, originally constructed during the 1930s 

and rebuilt in the 1950s, and 1960s after fl ood damage, 

consists of 1,238 miles of canals and drains serving 

approximately 70,000 irrigated acres along 150 miles of 

the Rio Grande. Work on the District will continue the 

automation of river diversions, canal fl ow controls, and 

waste ways; line delivery canals; and, install additional 

new gages. 

Desert Research Institute, Nevada

Of the funds provided for the Western Water Initiative 

(Water 2025), $1,000,000 was directed for the Desert 

Research Institute to address water quality and 

environmental issues in the West. Reclamation is 

working with Desert Research Institute on the following 

projects: 

Western United States

Conduct water chemistry analysis and develop 

application protocols that satisfy state and 

federal water quality standards that would enable 

widespread use of polyacrylamide (PAM) as 

a low cost, effective option to signifi cantly 

reduce irrigation canal seepage throughout 

the seventeen Reclamation states. 

Truckee River, Reno, Nevada

Quantify water effi ciency, quantity and 

environmental factors to the Truckee River that 

would result from automating checks on the Truckee 

Canal that are used to make water deliveries to 

the Newlands projects. Automating the checks has 

the potential to have positive impacts on water 

quantity and environmental issues associated with 

Reclamation operations.

Las Vegas Wash, Lake Mead, Nevada

Determine baseline conditions regarding sediment 

transport in the Las Vegas Wash and tributaries that 

fl ow into Lake Mead. Understanding the associated 

effects of sediment accumulation to water storage is 

essential for Reclamation to manage Reclamation's 

operations and ensure reliable downstream water 

deliveries.

Middle Rio Grande Water Measurement 

Records and transmits water fl ow data to District and Reclamation 

through telemetry station on right.
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

24

The new remote sensing technologies will improve 

Reclamation’s ability to estimate snow water equivalents 

and evapotranspiration losses. This data will help 

Reclamation gain a better understanding of water 

supplies and demands so it can be more effi cient in 

delivering water when and where it is needed.

Improving Technology

Wastewater, salty and other impaired water can be 

purifi ed to increase their utility. Water 2025’s goal is 

to encourage technological advances and identify new 

supplies. Reclamation can facilitate research to reduce 

the high costs that slow adoption of new desalination 

technologies.

Desalination

The fundamental goals in desalination are to decrease 

the cost of desalination technology, and facilitate 

the creation of new water supplies from desalination 

technology. Improving desalination technology will 

focus on cooperative research demonstration projects, 

pilot-scale projects, and research studies that are 

competed and cost shared

Reclamation is facilitating research efforts that will 

reduce the high costs that slow the adoption of new 

desalination technologies. In FY 2004, Reclamation’s 

Science and Technology Program offered a $3.0 

million competitive grant program for research, pilot 

and demonstration proposals to improve desalination 

technology. Desalination proposals that demonstrate a 

role in helping to avoid crisis and confl ict over water 

supplies in the West were selected and awarded in 

September 2004.

Ohio View Consortium, Ohio

When Congress appropriated $1,000,000 to Ohio View 

Consortium in FY 2004, Reclamation entered into a 

new partnership with the International Center for Water 

Resources Management at Central State University 

in Ohio, the Ohio View Consortium, and Colorado 

State University. This new collaborative effort will 

develop advanced remote sensing technologies to help 

Reclamation manage water resources in areas where 

there are current or potential water confl icts. 

Snow survey

Yuma Desalting Plant

“This partnership is a great opportunity for 

Reclamation. It will support the goals of 

Water 2025 by helping us and our customers 

manage for future water needs.”

Commissioner John Keys
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

25

Congress approved $19.5 million in Fiscal Year 2005, 

amounting to $17,251,012 after underfi nancing and 

rescission. This represents an increase of $11 million 

over the $8.4 million appropriated in FY 2004. 

Approximately $4.7 million (before underfi nancing 

and rescission) was allocated to Congressional 

earmarks: $1.7 million will provide for continued water 

conservation, effi ciency and management improvements 

related to the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District. 

Additionally, $2.0 million will allow Reclamation to 

continue working with Desert Research Institute to 

address water quality and environmental issues through 

the projects described on page 23. Another $1.0 million 

Congress Approved $19.5 Million 

in Fiscal Year 2005

will continue Reclamation’s work with the Ohio View 

Consortium to develop remote sensing technologies to 

improve water management

Challenge Grant Program

As in FY 2004, the Challenge Grant Program continues 

to be an integral part of Water 2025 in FY 2005. 

In administering Water 2025, leveraging limited 

Federal dollars continues to be important. In FY 2005, 

$10 million is allocated to the Challenge Grant Program. 

This represents an increase of $6 million over the 

amount allocated to the Challenge Grant Program in 
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

26

an investment of more than $2 million in water 

improvements, including matching contributions by 

the States. The six projects selected are summarized 

below:

Idaho

The Idaho Water Resources Board will develop a 

groundwater-recharge project for the Eastern Snake 

Plain Aquifer, using unappropriated natural surfacewater fl ows from the Upper Snake River Basin. 

The Board will construct a pipeline from the WCanal to two recharge basins. The recharge project 

would receive about 10,000 acre-feet of water per 

year. The total cost of the project is $519,126 with a 

Water 2025 contribution of $250,000. 

Kansas

The Kansas Department of Agriculture will 

install fl ow-measurement equipment on 

one-hundred diversions in the Republican River 

basin. The real-time monitoring of the diversions 

will enhance water-management and watermarketing opportunities between senior and junior 

water rights holders. Irrigators in the basin have 

had to curtail diversions in fi ve of the six previous 

years. The total project will cost $495,698 with a 

Water 2025 contribution of $230,720. 

FY 2004. For the $10 million available, Reclamation 

received 117 proposals requesting more than $35 million 

in Federal fi nding. Of those, forty-three proposals 

in thirteen states have been selected. Awards for the 

forty-three projects are currently under way. The total 

investment for the forty-three projects is more than 

$27 million, which includes more than $17 million in 

matching contributions by the non-Federal partners. 

Also in FY 2005, Reclamation is working with the 

seventeen Western States on Water 2025 activities. 

Section 206 of the Consolidated Appropriations Act 

(PL 108-447), adopted in November 2004, authorized 

Reclamation to enter into cooperative agreements with 

any of the seventeen Western States, in addition to 

irrigation and water districts, and other entities with 

water delivery authority, to provide funds for projects 

that improve water conservation and effi ciency and 

water management.

In the spring of 2005, Reclamation launched its Water 

2025 Challenge Grant Program for Western States. 

For the $1 million available, Reclamation received 

twenty-fi ve proposals from thirteen States. Six projects 

by Western States were selected for award, representing 

Salmon jumping fi sh ladder

New irrigation diversion, Central ID
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

27

Texas

The Texas Water Development Board will purchase 

ten acoustical leak- detection units and make them 

available to public water-supply systems and 

analyze statewide public water-system loss audits 

in preparation of setting regulations. The project 

will identify leaks in water systems for future watersaving projects. The total project will cost $321,527 

with a Water 2025 contribution of $158,250. 

Arizona 

The Arizona Department of Water Resources will 

develop a Web-based reporting tool to collect 

water-use data from community water systems in 

rural Arizona; develop a database of supply-anddemand information; make data available via the 

Web; review system effi ciency; and develop goals 

or benchmarks for water conservation in rural 

communities. The project will facilitate regional 

planning, promote conservation and enhance 

monitoring. The total project will cost $438,700 

with a Water 2025 contribution of $190,000. 

Montana

The state of Montana will install fl ow-measurement 

equipment on thirteen diversions in the Milk River 

Project; develop a computer fl ow-simulation model 

for the Milk-St. Mary Rivers System; upgrade four 

streamfl ow gages on tributaries of the Milk River; 

and install an agrimet station and use satellite 

imagery to verify consumptive uses in Canada. 

The total project will cost $188,999 with a Water 

2025 contribution of $81,286. 

New Mexico

The state of New Mexico will rehabilitate a USGS 

streamfl ow gage on the Pecos River to provide 

more accurate high streamfl ow measurements. 

The gage will help better measure water under high 

fl ow conditions. Accurate measurement of water 

delivered to Texas under the Pecos River Compact 

is critical to the state. The total project will cost 

$146,660 with a Water 2025 contribution of $59,480.

Headgate automation – before and after
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

28

President Bush’s Fiscal Year 2006 Budget 

Requests $30 Million for Water 2025

President Bush requested $30 million for Reclamation 

for Water 2025 in FY 2006. With $30 million, Water 

2025 will be a multifaceted, program that will consist of 

three components: (1) The Water 2025 Challenge Grant 

Program, including grants to Western States; (2) System 

Optimization Reviews; and (3) the advancement of 

desalination technology and reduction of the high costs 

currently associated with desalination. 

Through System Optimization Reviews, Reclamation 

will work with willing states, tribes, irrigation and water 

districts, and other local entities to assess the potential 

for water management improvements in a given basin 

or district. Like the Challenge Grants, funding for 

System Optimization Reviews will be allocated through 

a competitive process and will require a 50 percent nonFederal cost share. 

Lake Powell, AZ

System Optimization Reviews will result in 

recommendations and performance measures for 

effi ciency and conservation projects that will have 

the greatest impact in improving water management, 

such as creating water banks, facilitating water transfers 

and modernizing canals. The recommendations for 

on-the-ground improvements or water markets identifi ed 

in the Reviews could then be used by to apply for federal 

funds through the Challenge Grant Program. Additional 

credit may be given to Challenge Grant applicants that 

use the recommendations from the plans to apply for 

Water 2025 funds. 
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

29

Old headgate structure after effi ciency improvements

Old headgate structure before improvements

In keeping with the spirit of Secretary Norton’s 4Cs –

“Consultation, Communication and Cooperation, all 

in the service of Conservation” – Water 2025 supports 

cooperative approaches to resolving confl icts over water 

in the West. Collaborative processes that are based on the 

recognition of the rights and interests of the stakeholders 

allow problem solving that will maximize opportunities 

for innovation and creativity. The Water 2025 tools 

of Collaboration, Removing Institutional Barriers 

and Increasing Interagency Cooperation promote 

partnerships among stakeholders and coordination 

among federal agencies to more effectively focus federal 

dollars on critical water short areas.

Collaboration

Reclamation will continue to pursue opportunities for 

collaboration tied to demonstrable improvements in 

water supply will be pursued West-wide. The formation 

of partnerships and stakeholder involvement are key 

components of Water 2025. Applicants for Challenge 

Grants are given credit in the evaluation process if 

their proposals demonstrate collaboration by including 

non-Federal funding partners, or by demonstrating 

stakeholder support and involvement in the project. 

For example, the Medford Irrigation District’s 

FY 2004 Challenge Grant project to replace an 

antiquated dirt canal with pipeline opening up three 

miles of historic steelhead trout habitat, involves 

collaboration between the District, the City of Medford, 

the Bear Creek Watershed Council and Reclamation. 

Likewise, the Central Oregon Irrigation District’s 

FY 2004 Challenge Grant project to establish a water 

bank in the Deschutes Basin involves an alliance of 

seven different irrigation districts, four municipalities, 

the Deschutes Resource Conservancy, the Paiute and 

Wasco Tribes, and Reclamation.

Collaboration, Removing Institutional Barriers 

and Increasing Interagency Cooperation

Cooperative Approaches To Resolving Confl ict Collaboration
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

30

Removing Institutional Barriers

Sometimes improvements to the management of water 

in the West are met with barriers to success. Existing 

Federal laws and authorities can actually impede 

progress toward resolving confl ict over water resources. 

Water 2025 proposes researching and analyzing 

Automated headgate at the head of Noble Ditch, 

Payette Valley, ID

One of two original slide gates was automated to regulate 

diversions (top). Canal Company staff did most of the 

site work. Bottom photo shows measurement fl ume 

approximately 300 yards downstream of headgates, 

providing information to controller 

at headworks.

Automated canal gate with telemetry in a 

check structure formerly operated with boards

The equipment maintains water level upstream to ensure 

constant canal diversions. Water levels and gate height 

are used to provide measurement and permit accurate 

fl ow monitoring. This allows system operators to maintain 

minimum fl ows in the natural channel reach below the 

structure. Located in 7-mile Slough near Payette, ID.

current Federal policies, practices, and procedures to 

determine whether they might in fact impede the goals 

of implementing water conservation, effi ciencies, and 

markets across the West, especially in areas of the West 

most prone to confl ict and crises over water supplies.
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

31

Increasing Interagency Cooperation

Interior agencies, in collaboration with Department 

of Agriculture, will continue to closely monitor any 

western basins experiencing drought conditions. 

Existing programs will continue to be coordinated 

with other federal agencies, such as the Army Corps 

of Engineers and Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS). 

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers entered into 

a Memorandum of Understanding that promotes a longterm collaborative effort to improve the management of 

water and related land resources under each agency’s 

respective missions and authorities.

Department of Agriculture

The Departments of Agriculture (USDA) and Interior 

have worked together for decades to assist the residents 

of western States, both urban and rural. Reclamation 

and NRCS have had an active partnership for many 

years that promotes the idea of working together for 

the sustainable and effi cient use of Western agricultural 

water supplies. 

Reclamation and NRCS are coordinating their 

complementary programs, such as Water 2025, NRCS’ 

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and 

the Ground and Surface Water Conservation Program. 

Where confl ict over water supplies either exists today 

or can be predicted in the future, an extra effort will 

be made for inter-agency collaboration in order to 

prevent future water crises. Through Water 2025 and 

coordination of these programs, we believe a much 

larger impact can be realized at the local level, where 

water crises are the most painful.

On July 21, 2005, Secretary Norton and Agriculture 

Secretary Mike Johanns activated Interagency 

Drought Action Teams to coordinate drought relief to 

communities in Western States that face the greatest 

potential water shortages this summer. The Teams 

are working in conjunction with state governments to 

address drought conditions in Washington, Oregon, 

Idaho, Montana, and other states as needs are identifi ed. 

The Drought Action Team initiative stems from a June 

2003 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between 

the Department’s of the Interior and Agriculture as part 

of Water 2025. The MOU established an Interagency 

Drought Coordination Task Force, to identify areas 

with severe water supply problems that need immediate 

focused assistance and use the teams to mobilize 

appropriate federal resources to help communities and 

producers in need. Information on the Drought Action 

Teams and Memorandum of Understanding are available 

at http://www.doi.gov/water2025. Information on 

USDA relief to farmers, ranchers and local communities 

is available at http://disaster.usda.gov.

U.S. Geological Survey

USGS water activities that are highly relevant to the 

goals of Water 2025 are Ground Water Modeling, 

Watershed and River System Management Program, 

National Streamfl ow Information Program, Real-Time 

Ground-Water Monitoring, and USGS contributions 

to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The Cooperative Water 

Program facilitates collaboration between the USGS 

and many State agencies and irrigation districts. Finally, 

the USGS has signifi cantly increased its data collection 

and research regarding the hydrology and biology of the 

Upper Klamath Lake basin, in support of Reclamation, 

the State of Oregon, the Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and 

local tribes.

Wetlands habitat
WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

32

Conclusion

In conclusion, there is a Federal role in 

addressing water supply problems in the West. 

Reclamation is in the forefront of solving many 

of these problems by providing the necessary 

assistance to state and local entities. However, 

water supply issues will continue to create more 

confl ict if communities and decision makers are 

not more proactive in addressing these crises. 

Water 2025 will help prevent crises and confl ict 

in the West. 

Sprinkler irrigation

Fish ladder, ID
U.S. Department of the Interior

Bureau of Reclamation

WATER 2025 Preventing Crises and Confl ict in the West

Grand Canyon
Grand Coulee Dam. WA

http://www.doi.gov/initiatives/water2025.html