Water & Power

The Subcommittee on Water and Power has jurisdiction over the Bureau of Reclamation, the Water Division of the United States Geological Survey, and the four Federal Power Marketing Administrations- Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), Western Area Power Administration (WAPA), Southwestern Power Administration(SWPA) and Southeastern Power Administration (SEPA).  

The Bureau of Reclamation is the largest water purveyor in the nation, delivering the water needs for 31 million people, and providing one out of five Western farmers (140,000) with irrigation water.  Reclamation's 58 hydropower facilities have an installed capacity of 14,000 MW, producing enough electricity for 3.5 million homes. 

Bureau of Reclamation Dam Map

The Federal Power Marketing Administrations (PMAs) were created to market and deliver cost-based wholesale electric power generated mainly at federal dams owned by the Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.  The PMAs deliver to approximately 1,200 public power systems and rural electric cooperatives in 33 states.  

Specific Topics Include:

• California Water
• Water Recycling: Creating Jobs through Local Water Supplies
• Developing existing sites before building new: hydropower development at existing facilities
• Indian Water Rights Settlements