Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Purpose and Scope of Study <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The purpose of this study is <br />to identify projects havi ng <br />attractive opportunities for the <br />conservation of water and on which <br />further detailed investigation <br />should be made. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Using funds made available by the <br />Emergency Drought Act, a Water <br />Conservation Opportunities Study <br />Team (hereinafter referred to as <br />the Team) was organized with <br />the Bureau of Recl amati on <br />(Reclamation) and the Bureau of <br />Indian Affairs (Indian Affairs) <br />representatives. This Team was <br />comprised of one Indian Affairs <br />member (from the Office of <br />the Assistant Secretary for Indian <br />Affairs) and five Reclamation <br />members (two from the Denver <br />Engineering and Research Center, <br />two from Reclamation regional <br />offices, and one from the <br />Commissioner's Office in <br />Washi ngton, D.C.). The team <br />members represented a broad <br />cross-section of expertise and <br />experi ence in water resources <br />planning and management; system <br />operations; hydrology; irrigation <br />methods and practices; and <br />economi c, envi ronmental, and <br />social evaluations. The Team was <br />di rected to survey the i rri gati on <br />projects of both agencies to <br />i denti fy projects offeri ng <br />opportunities to conserve water. <br />Deficiencies in facilities <br />and management were to be <br />identified within a context of <br />remedial possibilities and <br />sufficient data gathered to enable <br />selection of projects offeri ng <br />attractive conservation <br />opportunities. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />The Team was cogni zant of the <br />general condition of Reclamation <br />and Indian Affairs irrigation <br />projects. Since some Indian <br />Affairs projects have been <br />in operation from the 1800's and <br />Reclamation projects from 1904, it <br />was considered probable that <br />numerous opportunities could be <br />found for conservation efforts. <br />The expertise in regional and area <br />offi ces was en 1 i s ted to inventory <br />those projects that seemed to <br />offer the most promising <br />opportunities for conserving water <br />through upgrading existing <br />facilities, providing new <br />facilities, and improving water <br />management practices. Maximum use <br />was made of avail ab 1 e i nformat ion <br />from project records, previous <br />studies, and experience of <br />personnel familiar with the <br />projects. Due to the time frame <br />allowed for the field offices to <br />provi de i npu t to the Team, the <br />study results should be considered <br />subappraisal level. <br /> <br />Information gathered and <br />summarized herein is thought to <br />meet the objectives of the study <br />insofar as selecting projects to <br />be given further study in an <br />action program leading to <br />conservat i on of water. The Team <br />di d not assume respons i bil i ty for <br />recommending which projects should <br />have highest priority for further <br />s tu dy . <br /> <br />Many other Reclamation and Indian <br />Affairs projects could be given <br />trea tment s i mi 1 a r to that of the <br />projects reported herein. In this <br />initial effort, however, the <br /> <br />3 <br />