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<br />w <br />'"., <br />c.c <br />-s <br /> <br />Preface . . . <br /> <br />L <br /> <br />President Theodore Roosevelt said that "The reclamation and <br />settlement of arid lands will enrich every portion of our <br />country and our people as a whole will profit." In 1902, he <br />indicated that a key element to initiate Westem growth and <br />development was the "reclamation" of the arid West by <br />constructing a system of irrigation works for the storage, <br />diversion, and development of water. This was envisioned as the <br />means to establish an agricultural base from which economic <br />diversity could occur. The Congress agreed, and through the <br />Reclamation Act of 1902 the Reclamation Service, since renamed <br />the Bureau of Reclamation, was created. <br /> <br />The Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) program has met <br />the challenge of helping develop the West by providing for <br />sustained economic growth and improving the quality of life. and <br />the environment. What were once arid lands are today some of the <br />most productive agricultural areas and urban centers in the world. <br />Reclamation's multipurpose projects provide safe and dependable <br />water supplies for agricultural, municipal and industrial, and <br />domestic users. Clean, renewable hydroelectric energy is <br />produced at Reclamation powerplants; water quality is protected <br />and improved; recreational and fish and wildlife benefits are <br />provided for the public; river regulation and navigation are <br />enhanced; and damaging floods are controlled. The success of the <br />Reclamation program is seen in benefits to regional and national <br />economies that will continue to be realized. <br /> <br />In addition to his legacy of using reclamation to help develop <br />the West, President Roosevelt also began a legacy of conservation. <br />He said, "As a people we have the right and duty. . .to protect <br />ourselves and Our children against the wasteful development of our <br />natural resources." The growing West and the rest of the Nation <br />still require the development of additional water supplies and <br />hydropower resources, but such development must be <br />environmentally responsive and economically justified. Changing <br />societal values, greater environmental knowledge and awareness, <br />increased competition for a scarce and fmite resource, and Federal <br />budgetary constraints have dictated the improved management and <br />protection of natural resources. <br /> <br />DRAFr <br /> <br />, ^ ":~" ~~,,- <br /> <br />'~ <br />. <br /> <br /> <br />" -r- <br /> <br />'c: <br /> <br />oj; <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />-J <br /> <br />" <br />'j <br /> <br />.~ <br /> <br />;, <br /> <br />......i:~ <br /> <br />.,. ~> ._"'~"''' <br />