WASHINGTON - Due to the shutdown of the federal government resulting from a lapse in appropriations, the Bureau of Reclamation is furloughing approximately 3,311 of its 5,077 employees and is implementing detailed contingency plans in 17 western states - plans designed to ensure continued activities related to the management of water and power and the protection of key water and power infrastructure in the West.
Reclamation will continue to deliver water and generate power during the shutdown period and will monitor emergency warning networks for the protection of life and property. Many of these actions are funded with non-appropriated dollars. Dam safety monitoring will also continue, with emergency and law enforcement personnel on duty for the protection of facilities.
The visitor centers at Hoover Dam and Grand Coulee Dam and will be open because those facilities operate with non-appropriated funds and visitor fees. Recreation areas operated by private concessionaires will remain open, but recreational areas operated by Reclamation or our federal partners may be closed. Visitors are encouraged to check on the status of any recreation area by making direct contact with a facility before any visit.
The shutdown will suspend certain Reclamation activities, including processing right-of-way and special-use permit applications and carrying out certain project management actions. Contracts and agreements that are considered non-essential may be subject to suspension or stop work orders and payments may not be processed in a timely fashion. General requests and Freedom of Information Act requests will not be processed.
More information on Reclamation’s plan during the shutdown can be found at www.doi.gov/shutdown.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
