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Strategic Objective

Expand Water Conservation Capabilities

Strategic Objective

Expand water conservation capabilities.

Lead Office: BOR

Themes:

Natural Resources and Environment

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Overview
Progress Update

Overview

Reclamation delivers water to one in every five farmers in the West and to over 31 million people. The water conservation programs, i.e. WaterSMART, Title XVI, CALFED, Water Conservation Field Services, Yakima River Basin Water Enhancement, and Upper Colorado River Recovery Implementation, contribute to the Goal by increasing the available water supply and contribute to Interior’s broader objective of achieving a more sustainable, secure water supply.

Progress Update

The Department of the Interior, in consultation with the Office of Management and Budget, has determined that performance toward this objective is making noteworthy progress. The Department is providing a much needed capability in the West to help support water supplies through conservation. Performance is trending upward, primarily due to additional funding for WaterSMART and related water conservation programs.

In FY 2015, Reclamation approved grants that will increase potential water savings of 117,155 acre‐feet. Cumulatively, projects funded from 2010‐2015 have contributed 977,454 acre‐feet of capacity toward the goal, allowing Reclamation to exceed the FY 2015 target of 910,000 acre‐feet. During 2015, and after target development, Congress provided additional funding for water conservation efforts to mitigate the effects of drought conditions, and Reclamation was able to provide grants to achieve the additional water conservation capacity.

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Strategic Goals

Strategic Goal:

Extend Water Supplies through Conservation

Statement:

The American West is now the fastest growing region of the country and faces serious water challenges. Competition for finite water supplies is increasing as a result of population growth, agricultural demands, and water for environmental needs. An increased emphasis on domestic energy development will place additional pressure on limited water supplies, as significant amounts of water may be required for unconventional and renewable energy development.

Impacts of climate change, as evidenced by increases in temperature, decreases in precipitation and snowpack, extended droughts, and depleted aquifers and stream flow in several Reclamation river basins are reducing water supplies. Water is vital for the environment and the economies of rural and urban communities in the west. The Department will “increase” water supplies through BOR’s Priority Goal conservation programs.

Strategic Objectives

Expand Water Conservation Capabilities

Statement:

Expand water conservation capabilities.

Description:

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FY 14-15 Priority Goal: Water conservation

Statement:

Water Conservation. By September 30, 2015, the Department of the Interior will further enable the capability to increase the available water supply for agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental uses in the western United States through Reclamation water conservation programs to 840,000 acre-feet, cumulatively since the end of FY2009.

Description:

Problem or opportunity being addressed

The Nation faces an increasing set of water resource challenges: aging water-related infrastructure, rapid population growth, depletion of groundwater resources, and climate variability and change. Shortages and water use conflicts have become more commonplace in many areas of the US, even in "normal" years. Water issues and challenges are especially increasing in the West, due to prolonged drought and population shift.Traditional water management approaches, by themselves, no longer meet today's need.Federal leadership is critical to widespread acceptance and implementation of effective conservation and recycling techniques.

Relationship to agency strategic goals and objectives

As the means for realizing one of the Secretary of the Interior’s key priorities for tackling the water challenges in the west, this goal will add to the achievements reflected in the Strategic Plan under the mission area to “Sustainably Manage Energy, Water, and Natural Resources.

Reclamation works collaboratively with non-federal, state, local and tribal governments, water districts, and other entities, on a cost-shared basis to implement projects that improve water management and result in water conservation in the 17 Western states. This includes projects to line unlined canals, install remote technology to allow for more accurate control over water deliveries, install new water measurement devices, and other projects that allow water users to decrease water diversions by increasing efficiency and operational flexibility. By conserving water that can be made available for other uses, these projects contribute to the goal by increasing the available water supply and contribute to Reclamation’s broader objective of achieving a more sustainable water supply.

A sustainable water supply is critical to address current and future water shortages; degraded water quality; increased demands for water from growing populations and energy needs; amplified recognition of environmental water requirements; the potential for decreased water supply availability due to drought, climate change, or decreased storage and delivery capacity; and water inequity for Indian tribes and rural communities disadvantaged by financial need or geographic isolation. Reclamation believes that water conservation, use of water markets, and improved efficiency are crucial elements of any plan to address western water issues. With leveraged water sustainability grants, an important step will be taken towards increasing conservation for a more efficient use of water in the West.

Key barriers and challenges

The primary challenges and risks that influence achievement of the Priority Goal include:

The availability of data needed to measure water conserved.
Water savings are heavily dependent upon applications submitted by project sponsors.
State Water Laws (e.g., disincentives to water conservation).
Ability to complete environmental compliance in a reasonable timeframe and cost.
Local cost-shares (e.g., inability to meet cost-share requirements identified by respective program).

Stakeholder Engagement

This goal is a continuation of the FY 2012-2013 goal that was developed by the Reclamation Commissioner and the Assistant Secretary Water and Science as a means for helping achieve one of the Secretary of the Interior’s top priorities in addressing the water challenges facing the western U.S.

Programs that contribute to the Priority Goal for Water Conservation provide funding for improvements proposed, planned, and carried out by non-Federal entities with Reclamation’s assistance.Collaboration is therefore a crucial aspect of efforts to achieve this Priority Goal. Reclamation also incorporates stakeholder feedback into its conservation efforts by engaging stakeholders during program formulation and significant program revisions.For example, Reclamation made draft funding criteria for the Title XVI Program available for public review and comment in 2010 and incorporated feedback into final criteria.Similarly, the WaterSMART Strategic Implementation Plan was published in the Federal Register in March 2011 and comments were incorporated into the final document.Reclamation also routinely works with its partners at the State and local level through public outreach meetings, scoping committees, and through reporting and program oversight.

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Agency Priority Goals

FY 14-15: Water conservation

Statement:

Description:

Problem or opportunity being addressed

Relationship to agency strategic goals and objectives

Key barriers and challenges

The primary challenges and risks that influence achievement of the Priority Goal include:

The availability of data needed to measure water conserved.
Water savings are heavily dependent upon applications submitted by project sponsors.
State Water Laws (e.g., disincentives to water conservation).
Ability to complete environmental compliance in a reasonable timeframe and cost.
Local cost-shares (e.g., inability to meet cost-share requirements identified by respective program).

Stakeholder Engagement

Learn More

Agency Priority Goals

FY 14-15 Agency Priority Goal:

Water conservation

Statement:

Description:

Problem or opportunity being addressed

Relationship to agency strategic goals and objectives

Key barriers and challenges

The primary challenges and risks that influence achievement of the Priority Goal include:

The availability of data needed to measure water conserved.
Water savings are heavily dependent upon applications submitted by project sponsors.
State Water Laws (e.g., disincentives to water conservation).
Ability to complete environmental compliance in a reasonable timeframe and cost.
Local cost-shares (e.g., inability to meet cost-share requirements identified by respective program).

Stakeholder Engagement

Learn More

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