Reclamation, << `rehk` luh MAY shuhn, >> Bureau of, is a United States government agency that works to manage and protect water resources in the Western States. It plans projects that create more efficient use of water for cities and industries, hydroelectric power generation, irrigation, and outdoor recreation. It also works to preserve water quality and to create habitats for fish and other animals that live in water.
The agency was established in 1902. It planned the construction of dams, hydroelectric power plants, reservoirs, and water distribution systems. It also maintained the projects after they were completed. In 1987, the Bureau of Reclamation announced that it would no longer plan such large-scale construction projects.
The original name of the agency was the Reclamation Service. Its name was changed in 1923 to the Bureau of Reclamation, in 1979 to the Water and Power Resources Service, and in 1981 back to its present name. The Bureau of Reclamation is part of the United States Department of the Interior.
