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. , Otl1S2Q \ Ii WESTERN ......____-,:,u-- ~TES WATE November 5, 1993 .1016 - + " ('2. RECEIVED 'y "'1 NO\! S 1;/93 :::J \ cw_ 'F'l=-- THE WEEKLY NEWSLETfER OF THE WESlERN STATES WAlER COUNCIL Creekview Plaza, Suite A-201/942 East 7145 So./ Midvale, Utah 84047 / (801) 561-5300/ FAX (801) 255.9642 editor - Norman K. Johnson typist - Carrie Curvin ADMINISTRAllON UPDATE/WATER RESOURCES National Performance Review/Bureau of Reclamation . Under President Clinton's directive to "reinvent government," the Bureau of Reclamation has embraced the goais of the Nationai Per10rmance Review (NPR), and released a Blueprint for Reform. It is a product of many recommendations from over 1,000 Reclamation employees and management officials. The Bureau is one of the first federal agencies to respond to the NPR. In announcing the Blueprint on Nov. 1, Commissioner Dan Beard said, "We were stuck working on yesterday's issues. We were reading off an old script. By adopting...these reforms, we can heip manage the water needs and problems of today, while preparing for the future," The Commissioner created a Program and Organization Review Team earlier this year, In August, it presented recommendations concerning changes needed to achieve Reclamation's mission and Interior Secretary Babbitt's goal of transforming Reclamation "from a civil works construction agency into a preeminent water management agency." The recommendations were based on two "givens;" that Reclamation must be responsive to changing public values, and that deciining budget and personnel ceilings pose significant constraints on program activities and require more efficient use of existing resources. The changes address internal organization and overall policy. . Reclamation's mission statement is: "To manage, develop and protect water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner in the interest of the American public." The new reforms fall under four key NPR principles: cutting red tape, putting customers first, empowering empioyees to get results, and getting back to basics. The Blueprint chairman - Dave Kennedy executive director - Craig Bell adds other guiding principles to accomplish the mission, including: (1) facilitating water transfers to new uses according to state law; (2) coordinating and improving management of existing water and power resources; (3) promoting sustainable and environmentally sensitive water and land uses; (4) facilitating integrated water resources management on a watershed basis; and (5) prompting fiscal responsibility and sound business practices. A common set of values embraced in the report address leadership, accomplishment, respect, recognition, service, responsibility, public trust, innovation, teamwork, diversity, communication, trust, and ethics. With respect to functional realignments and Bureau organization, some changes made in 1988 will be reversed. Regional directors, in consultation with the Washington and Denver offices, are to develop a plan for delegating more authority to the field offices and proposing a new alignment of area offices. A new Denver Service Center will provide scientific, human resource and administrative services. However, three layers of management will be removed and staffing will be reduced. Where cost effective, scientific and engineering functions will be returned to the field. Thus, the Washington office will set policy to be implemented by local offices, with the Denver office outside of the direct chain of command. The proposed changes have been approved by Betsy Rieke, Assistant Interior Secretary for Water and Science, and Commissioner Beard has asked existing Reclamation leadership to formulate implementation plans and submit them for his approval by Dec. 31. He expects functional process changes to be implemented no later than the end of FY94. The Blueprint notes that, "It is critical for the well-being of the employees...that [the] transition occur rapidly." F or information contact Lisa Guide (202) 208-4662.