# United States Bureau of Reclamation > government agency **Wikidata**: [Q1010548](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1010548) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Bureau_of_Reclamation) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/united-states-bureau-of-reclamation ## Summary The United States Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is a federal government agency within the United States Department of the Interior, established in 1902 under President Theodore Roosevelt to manage water resources and construct dams, reservoirs, and irrigation projects across the western United States. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., the agency employs approximately 5,425 people and is responsible for some of the most significant water infrastructure projects in American history. The Bureau operates under the mission of managing, developing, and protecting water and related resources in an environmentally and economically sound manner. ## Key Facts - **Official Name:** United States Bureau of Reclamation - **Alternative Names:** United States Reclamation Service, Bureau of Reclamation, USBR, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation - **International Aliases:** 土地改良局, アメリカ合衆国土地改良局, アメリカ合衆国開拓局, 美國墾務局, 美國填海工程局, 垦务局, 美国垦务局 - **Inception:** 1902 - **Founded By:** Theodore Roosevelt - **Parent Organization:** United States Department of the Interior - **Headquarters:** Washington, D.C., United States - **Employees:** 5,425 - **Country:** United States - **Website:** https://www.usbr.gov/ (preferred, migrated from HTTP to HTTPS) - **Domain:** usbr.gov - **Social Media:** Twitter: @usbr (verified account since December 18, 2008); Facebook: bureauofreclamation - **Instance Of:** Government agency ## FAQs **What is the primary mission of the United States Bureau of Reclamation?** The Bureau of Reclamation manages, develops, and protects water and related resources in the western United States, focusing on building and maintaining dams, reservoirs, and irrigation systems that support agricultural development, municipal water supply, and hydroelectric power generation across arid regions. **When was the United States Bureau of Reclamation established and by whom?** The agency was established in 1902 by President Theodore Roosevelt as part of the Reclamation Act of 1902, originally called the United States Reclamation Service, with the mission of constructing irrigation projects in the western states to enable agricultural development of arid lands. **How many people does the Bureau of Reclamation employ?** The Bureau of Reclamation employs approximately 5,425 people, making it a significant federal agency dedicated to water resource management in the United States. **What government department oversees the Bureau of Reclamation?** The Bureau of Reclamation operates under the United States Department of the Interior as one of its constituent agencies responsible for water resources and infrastructure. **What are some notable alternative names for the Bureau of Reclamation?** Beyond its official name, the agency has been known as the United States Reclamation Service, and in various languages it is referred to as 土地改良局 (Japanese/Chinese for Land Improvement Bureau), アメリカ合衆国土地改良局 (Japanese for United States Land Improvement Bureau), 美國墾務局 (Traditional Chinese for U.S. Reclamation Bureau), and other regional variations. **What is the Bureau of Reclamation's online presence?** The agency maintains an official website at https://www.usbr.gov/, with the domain usbr.gov. It is verified on Twitter as @usbr since December 2008, and maintains a Facebook presence at bureauofreclamation. ## Why It Matters The United States Bureau of Reclamation stands as one of the most influential water management agencies in American history, having fundamentally transformed the western United States through its massive infrastructure projects. Since its founding in 1902, the Bureau has constructed over 600 dams and reservoirs, including iconic structures like Hoover Dam, Glen Canyon Dam, and Grand Coulee Dam, which have enabled agricultural development, urban growth, and economic prosperity across regions that would otherwise remain arid and uninhabitable. The agency's work extends far beyond simple dam construction. The Bureau manages water storage and delivery systems that provide drinking water to millions of people, irrigation water for millions of acres of farmland, and hydroelectric power generation that contributes significantly to the nation's renewable energy portfolio. Its role in flood control, recreation, and environmental stewardship has made it indispensable to western state economies and ecosystems. The Bureau of Reclamation also represents a pivotal chapter in American environmental and political history. Its creation marked the beginning of large-scale federal involvement in water resource development, establishing precedents for environmental policy, water rights, and inter-state water compacts that continue to shape legal frameworks today. The agency's evolution from aggressive water development to balanced resource management reflects broader shifts in American environmental consciousness. ## Notable For - **Hoover Dam Construction:** Built between 1931 and 1936, Hoover Dam was one of the largest concrete structures ever built at the time and remains a landmark engineering achievement - **Largest Western Water Infrastructure Network:** Manages over 600 dams and reservoirs across 17 western states - **Hydroelectric Power Generation:** Operates numerous hydroelectric facilities contributing to renewable energy production in the western United States - **Irrigation Support:** Provides water for irrigation of millions of acres of agricultural land in arid western regions - **Historic Preservation:** The agency's projects and records are preserved across multiple archives, libraries, and digital repositories internationally - **International Recognition:** Referenced in multiple language Wikipedia editions (German, English, French, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Dutch, Norwegian, Russian, Simple Chinese, Chinese) - **Digital Archives:** Extensive documentation in Library of Congress, VIAF, and multiple national library systems worldwide ## Body ### History and Founding The United States Bureau of Reclamation was established in 1902 through the Reclamation Act, signed into law by President Theodore Roosevelt. Originally known as the United States Reclamation Service, the agency was created in response to the need for water development in the arid western United States. The agency's founding marked a significant expansion of federal involvement in water resource management, with the mission of constructing irrigation projects to enable agricultural settlement and development of western lands. The early 20th century saw the Bureau undertake massive projects that would reshape the American West, including the construction of major dams and reservoir systems that transformed desert landscapes into productive agricultural regions. These projects required unprecedented engineering feats and established the Bureau as a leader in dam construction and water management technology. ### Organizational Structure and Leadership The Bureau operates as an agency within the United States Department of the Interior, reporting to the Secretary of the Interior. With approximately 5,425 employees, the agency maintains a significant federal workforce dedicated to water resource management, engineering, environmental compliance, and public outreach. The headquarters is located in Washington, D.C., where policy decisions and national coordination occur, while regional offices throughout the western United States manage local operations. ### International Identifiers and Documentation The Bureau of Reclamation maintains an extensive presence in international library and archival systems, reflecting its historical significance and the global interest in American water management practices. The agency is catalogued under multiple authority identifiers including VIAF (128924906), GND (117371-6), ISNI (0000000122856529 and 0000000404060289), and NSK (981005731274109366). These identifiers facilitate academic research and documentation across international scholarly networks. The agency's records appear in the catalogs of numerous national libraries including the Library of Congress (authority ID: n80126148), Bibliothèque nationale de France (120662987), National Library of Greece (231789), National Library of Korea (KAB201913862), National Library of Brazil (000196719), National Library of Israel (987007599168305171), National Library of Ireland (vtls000059671), National Library of Portugal (139751), and Canadiana (ncf10190546). This extensive international cataloging demonstrates the Bureau's relevance as a subject of study for researchers worldwide. ### Digital and Online Presence The Bureau maintains a comprehensive online presence through its official website at https://www.usbr.gov/, which serves as the primary public interface for information about agency programs, projects, and resources. The website transitioned from HTTP to HTTPS, reflecting modern web security standards. The domain usbr.gov serves as the canonical web address for all Bureau communications. Social media engagement includes a verified Twitter account (@usbr), which has been active since December 18, 2008, making it one of the longer-established federal agency social media presences. The Bureau also maintains a Facebook page (bureauofreclamation) with ongoing engagement. These digital platforms provide public access to news, project updates, recreational information, and agency announcements. ### Engineering and Infrastructure Achievements The Bureau of Reclamation is renowned for its engineering accomplishments, particularly in dam construction. The agency has built over 600 dams and reservoirs across 17 western states, including some of the most iconic water infrastructure projects in American history. These structures serve multiple purposes including water storage for irrigation, municipal water supply, hydroelectric power generation, and flood control. The Bureau's engineering legacy includes pioneering techniques in concrete dam construction, tunnel excavation, and water delivery systems. Many Bureau projects remain operational decades after their construction, continuing to provide essential services to western communities. The agency's technical expertise has also been shared internationally through consulting and collaboration programs. ### Water Resource Management Beyond construction, the Bureau manages complex water allocation systems that balance competing demands from agricultural, municipal, industrial, and environmental users. This management role requires navigation of complex water rights systems, inter-state compacts, and environmental regulations. The Bureau works closely with state water agencies, tribal nations, and stakeholders to ensure sustainable water use. The agency's responsibilities include maintaining water quality, managing reservoir operations for multiple purposes, and coordinating with other federal agencies on environmental protection. These tasks have become increasingly complex as climate change, population growth, and environmental concerns reshape water management challenges in the western United States. ### Environmental and Cultural Resources The Bureau maintains programs dedicated to environmental stewardship and cultural resource protection. Many Bureau reservoirs create habitats for fish and wildlife, and the agency works to balance infrastructure operations with environmental protection requirements. Cultural resource management includes preservation of historical and archaeological sites affected by Bureau projects. Recreational opportunities at Bureau facilities generate significant public benefit, with reservoirs providing boating, fishing, camping, and other outdoor recreation opportunities that support local economies and public health. The agency manages these recreational resources in coordination with other federal, state, and local partners. ### Academic and Research Significance The Bureau of Reclamation serves as an important subject of academic study across multiple disciplines including engineering, environmental science, history, political science, and water law. Academic institutions worldwide maintain collections related to the Bureau, documented through identifiers in research databases including CINI (1140282266558293376), Microsoft Academic (1322540875), and Open Library. The agency's historical records are preserved in major archival collections, with documentation appearing in systems identified by SNAC (w6r895pv), ArchiveGrid, and numerous institutional repositories. These resources support ongoing research into water policy, infrastructure development, and western American history. ### Publications and Educational Resources The Bureau produces extensive technical documentation, reports, and educational materials. These publications cover engineering standards, water management practices, environmental assessments, and historical documentation of Bureau projects. Many of these materials are available through the Bureau's website and through federal depository libraries. The agency's historical publications have been digitized and made available through various library systems, supporting research into the development of American water resources and engineering practices. These materials represent a significant contribution to technical and historical literature. ## References 1. archINFORM 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. BnF authorities 4. CiNii Research 5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 6. GRID Release 2017-07-12 7. Quora 8. Aligned ISNI and Ringgold identifiers for institutions 9. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiarch.php) 10. Microsoft Academic Knowledge Graph 11. Name Suggestion Index 12. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)