Washington (Feb. 21, 2024) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Bureau of Reclamation recently released “State of the Infrastructure: A Joint Report by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.” The report provides a high-level overview of the infrastructure asset portfolio and related asset management practices, collaboration efforts, and future strategies.
The two agencies have recently made record investments in critical water resource construction projects and to further develop innovative approaches to address their most pressing challenges.
· USACE: Forty-eight construction projects have started and 61 were completed over the last five years.
· Reclamation: Produced three annual Bipartisan Infrastructure Law spend plans of $1.66 billion each in fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024. It has also allocated $2.9 billion of this funding to more than 420 individual projects.
“We are at a critical moment in our history with a once-in-a-generation investment in our nation’s Civil Works infrastructure,” said USACE Director of Civil Works Edward Belk, Jr. “Together, we can provide the most efficient and effective solutions to promote safety, economic well-being, and the environment in the West and across the country.”
“We are moving forward with these urgent priorities while in close collaboration with Tribes, states, water managers, farmers, irrigators, and other stakeholders,” said Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “This historic funding underscores how proactive efforts from the Biden-Harris administration are helping increase water efficiency and conservation across the West.”
Reclamation and the USACE Civil Works programs receive funding through annual Energy and Water Development Act appropriations, supplemental appropriations, non-federal cost-sharing partnerships, and other sources. In an ongoing effort to return the highest overall value to the nation from available funds, USACE and Reclamation seek opportunities to work with their partners to:
· Develop planning study solutions in a timely and cost-effective manner.
· To manage the cost, schedule, and scope of ongoing construction projects.
· To use risk analysis to prioritize capital investment and maintenance needs.
The Army Corps and Reclamation are committed to constructing infrastructure projects that will strengthen the Nation’s economy, protect people and property, and restore key ecosystems.
The report may be viewed on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ or Bureau of Reclamation's website https://www.usbr.gov/.