State of the

Infrastructure
A Joint Report by the Bureau of Reclamation
and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

December 2019
 On the cover and this page: the Joint Federal Project at Folsom Dam
(photographs: Reclamation, December 2016).

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Army Corps) and

the Bureau of Reclamation (Reclamation) collaborated
on a critical infrastructure project to construct the
Folsom Dam auxiliary spillway, also known as the Joint
Federal Project. Reclamation and the Army Corps,
along with other cooperating agencies, formed an
unprecedented partnership to address dam safety issues
associated with extreme floods and to provide enhanced
flood risk reduction for the Sacramento area – one of the
most at-risk communities in the Nation. The auxiliary
spillway was constructed adjacent to Folsom’s main
concrete dam, 23 miles northeast of Sacramento. It
includes a 1,100-foot-long approach channel beginning
in Folsom Reservoir, a concrete control structure with
six bulkheads and six radial gates, a 3,100-foot-long
auxiliary spillway chute, and a stilling basin that acts as
an energy dissipation structure as water discharges and
enters the American River. With the ability to operate
the new spillway, large floods can be better managed
by safely releasing more water from Folsom Reservoir
earlier in a storm through both the spillway gates on
Folsom Dam and the new control structure’s radial
gates, thereby reducing hydrologic risk and leaving more
storage capacity in the reservoir.

2
Executive Statement
The Army Corps and Reclamation have a long history of to use risk analysis to prioritize capital investment and
collaboration in evaluating, constructing, operating, and maintenance needs.
maintaining water infrastructure projects, in addition to
sharing management responsibilities at major facilities. The Army Corps and Reclamation are committed to
Reclamation and the Army Corps Civil Works working with Tribal Governments, other Federal agencies,
Program receive funding through annual Energy and states, local governments, the private sector, and the public
Water Development Act appropriations, supplemental to manage, maintain, and enhance infrastructure. This
appropriations, and from non-Federal cost-sharing partners report provides a high-level overview of the infrastructure
and other receipts. In an ongoing effort to return the highest asset portfolio and related asset management practices,
overall value to the Nation from available funds, the collaboration efforts, and future strategies. Additional detail
Army Corps and Reclamation seek opportunities to work can be found on the respective agency websites. Our work
with their partners to develop planning study solutions in is part of the broader effort at all levels of government
a timely and cost-effective manner, to manage the cost, to manage the Nation’s water resources in a responsible
schedule, and scope of ongoing construction projects, and manner.

James Dalton Brenda Burman

Director of Civil Works Commissioner
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Bureau of Reclamation

The mission of the U.S. Army Corps of The mission of the Bureau of Reclamation
Engineers is to provide engineering services is to manage, develop, and protect water and
in collaboration with our partners to achieve related resources in an environmentally and
technically thorough, environmentally economically sound manner in the interest of
sustainable, and economically-driven the American public.
solutions to our nation’s water resource
needs.

Executive Statement 3
Water-Related Infrastructure
Decades of Federal investment have yielded a robust
national portfolio of water-related infrastructure, which
represents a diverse and vast inventory of mission-critical,
legacy, and strategically-developed assets for the benefit of
the American people.

This enormous physical infrastructure is one of our

Nation’s most valuable assets, providing ongoing power
generation, water supply, navigation, flood risk reduction,
recreation, and other benefits. The importance, extent,
and impacts of water-related infrastructure managed and
maintained by the Army Corps and Reclamation are large
and broad, impacting the Nation’s economy daily.

The agencies will continue to efficiently manage funds and

will pursue opportunities to respond to evolving influences
on water-related infrastructure, such as infrastructure
that is reaching or, in some cases, exceeding its design
life, resulting in continuing and increasing needs for
maintenance, repair, and replacement projects. Many Army
Corps and Reclamation dams are more than 50 years old
and most were built well before modern state-of-the-art
design and construction practices were in use.

4 Grand Coulee Dam, Washington (photograph: Reclamation, June 2011)

 The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ &
the Bureau of Reclamation’s Combined

WATER-RELATED INFRASTRUCTURE
1,200+ 5,000+
Dams Recreation Areas

153
Hydroelectric
Powering
Powerplants

150 Million acre-feet 130 Million People

Serves
10 Million Acres

Tens of Thousands
of Miles of Canals
25,000 Miles of
Navigable Waterways

5
 Reliable Systems
Dams
Dams are major components of a comprehensive strategy
to address water resource challenges posed by drought,
flooding, depleted aquifers, environmental needs, energy
demands, and population increase and movement in the
United States. The Army Corps and Reclamation evaluate
the condition of dams, dikes, and levees, and monitor the
performance of facilities to manage the risks posed to the
public due to these facilities. This is done through common
Federal public protection guidelines which provide a
framework for managing risk for life loss, economic,
cultural, and environmental consequences. The guidelines
also help maintain the ability of dams and related
facilities to provide reliable water, power, and flood risk
management benefits.

One of the Army Corps’ primary missions is flood

risk management and reducing risk from flood events.
Reclamation’s dams also provide flood control benefits in J. Strom Thurmond Dam and Lake. The lake is the third-largest artificial
lake east of the Mississippi River, behind Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee
many cases, but the agency’s mission is focused on water River and Lake Marion on the Santee River. Clarks Hills, South Carolina.
storage to irrigate farms and ranches, supply drinking Completed in 1952 (photograph: Army Corps, November 2011).
water, enhance fish and wildlife habitats, and create public
recreational opportunities. Dams managed by both the
Army Corps and Reclamation provide water for generating Challenges
a major portion of the United States’ hydroelectric power.
• Some Army Corps and Reclamation dams operate
Strengths at reduced capacity for flood storage, water supply,
recreation, and other purposes because of measures
• Systematic and rigorous inspection and maintenance implemented to address safety challenges informed
programs assure the continued provision of benefits by state-of-the-art design and construction standards.
from the Army Corps’ 716 dams and Reclamation’s 491 Most Army Corps and Reclamation dams were built 50
dams. or more years ago.
• State-of-the art dam safety programs use risk-informed • Water storage capacity in some reservoirs has
evaluations to identify, analyze, and address hazards. decreased due to sediment accumulation, requiring
These programs assure that the safety and welfare of evaluation of sediment removal and management
the public is prioritized and reduce risks to property options to reduce risk to water supply, power
and the environment. generation, and other uses.
• Both the Army Corps and Reclamation have developed • Competing infrastructure demands require balancing
programs to reduce the required Federal investment of water supply, flood risk management, agricultural
for many projects by accounting for cost sharing with demand versus municipal and industrial needs, urban
stakeholders in Federal dam projects, as directed by encroachment, and storm magnitudes and frequencies.
Congress. • Dam safety repairs are sometimes needed in areas of
• Reclamation has new authority to consider title dense population.
transfers that can reduce the Federal inventory and • Innovative investment decisions are needed to improve
focus resources on assets having national significance the technical capabilities and financial capacities
and benefit. of non-Federal operating entities responsible for
operations and maintenance of Federal facilities.

6 Reliable Systems: Dams

 Reliable Systems
Hydropower Facilities
The Army Corps is the largest producer of hydroelectric Strengths
power in the United States and owns 75 hydropower
facilities with a total generating capacity of approximately • Hydropower is a source of clean and renewable energy.
24,000 megawatts. Reclamation is the second largest • Systematic Power Review programs provide audit-like
producer of hydroelectric power in the Nation and owns 78 evaluations of the status of power programs relative to
facilities; Reclamation directly operates and maintains 53 policy requirements.
of these facilities, which have a total generating capacity of • The Army Corps and Reclamation conduct regular
approximately 15,000 megawatts. Reclamation and Army condition assessments to strategically plan capital
Corps facilities generate more than 100 million megawatt- investments at hydropower facilities.
hours of electricity each year, the equivalent annual demand • Army Corps and Reclamation power is to be generated
of more than 10 million U.S. homes. in a safe, reliable, and cost-effective manner. To
that end, both programs seek out efficiencies while
protecting against threats such as cyber and other
attacks.
• Reclamation and Army Corps hydropower programs
support domestic energy security initiatives by
optimizing existing hydropower resources and
facilitating the development of untapped resource
potential through collaborative regulatory reform,
operational and technological innovation, and
stakeholder outreach. Collectively, these activities add
to the value and revenue realized from existing public
infrastructure.
• Additional hydropower can be developed by non-
Federal entities at non-powered Reclamation and
Army Corps assets via Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission licensing or Reclamation Lease of Power
Privilege authorizations, dependent upon the nature of
the underlying Federal asset.
John Keys Pumping Plant, Grand Coulee Dam, Grand Coulee,
Washington. Construction 1967-1974 (photograph: Reclamation, October
2019). Challenges

Over the past century, Federal hydropower generated • Recapitalizing Federal hydropower assets is difficult
at Reclamation projects has enabled the conveyance of when energy prices are low, requiring an investment
water across the arid western U.S. In addition, power strategy that balances trade-offs among performance,
that is surplus to project requirements is marketed by reliability, and increased energy costs.
Department of Energy Power Marketing Administrations. • Hydropower must remain competitive and derive
Surplus power has provided Reclamation a steady source maximum value in an evolving energy market, one
of funding for project repayment and investment. Reliable, marked by low energy prices and availability of other
low-cost hydropower generated at Reclamation and Army energy generation resources.
Corps projects has provided tremendous value to the • Competing water demands require a balance among
Nation, including spurring the development of the western hydroelectric power generation and flood risk
United States through the provision of reliable electric management, water supply, ecosystem restoration, and
power to rural communities as well as supporting western species enhancement activities.
interconnected grid reliability.

Reliable Systems: Hydropower Facilities 7

 Reliable Systems
Navigation – Ports, Locks, and Dredging
The Army Corps’ primary navigation responsibility
is to provide safe, reliable, efficient, effective, and
environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation
systems for the movement of commerce, national security
needs, and recreation. The Army Corps operates and
maintains 25,000 miles of navigable waterways, channels
and harbors, including 239 lock chambers at 193 sites
and 1,067 coastal, Great Lakes, and inland harbors that A six barge tow tied off on the downstream side of Markland Lock &
directly serve 40 states. Coastal channels and inland and Dam’s 600-foot lock on the Ohio River, 531.5 river miles below Pittsburgh.
intracoastal waterways maintained by the Army Corps Towboats push up to 15 barges when navigating the inland waterway
system, but a lock can accommodate only six to nine barges at a time.
support the Nation’s economy and security and contribute One barge has the capacity to safely transport 1,500 tons of products
to state and local government economic development. (photograph: Army Corps, November 2009).

Strengths Challenges

• The U.S. marine transportation industry supports • Many U.S. coastal ports have limited ability to accept
approximately $2 trillion in commerce annually. Army post-Panamax cargo vessels which drive international
Corps maintenance dredging avoided at least $1 billion commerce.
in additional shipping costs in coastal channels in 2017. • Many inland locks lack the capacity or redundancy for
• The Army Corps dredges over 210 million cubic yards optimal industry barge traffic configuration.
of material each year to keep the Nation’s waterways • Continued focus is needed toward operating and
navigable. Much of the dredged material is reused maintaining the Nation’s harbors, channels, waterways,
beneficially for environmental restoration projects and infrastructure by using asset management
including the creation and restoration of wetlands and principles that target the greatest economic,
other valuable habitat. environmental, and public safety returns to the Nation,
• More than 48 percent of consumer goods bought by and to reduce unscheduled lock and dam outages.
Americans passes through harbors maintained by the • An estimated 657 million tons of cargo could
Army Corps. potentially be disrupted annually without regular
• The Nation’s harbors, channels, and waterways maintenance dredging of major waterways.
handle almost 2.4 billion tons of commerce annually. • The cost of dredging has increased 12 percent in the
Approximately 600 million tons of cargo or 15 percent last 10 years (adjusted for inflation); this is coupled
of domestic freight moves on inland waterways: 52 with ongoing sediment accumulation in coastal
percent of the Nation’s grains, 22 percent of domestic navigation channels.
petroleum/products, and 20 percent of coal used for • Intermodal transportation needs require extensive
electricity. coordination with other agencies and entities.

The Army Corps Vicksburg District’s Mat Sinking Unit places articulated concrete mat on the west side of the Mississippi River near Newellton in Tensas
Parish, Louisiana at Mile 413.5. This maintenance is done to preserve the Mississippi River’s navigation channel, as well as to prevent erosion of levees
and other critical flood control structures. The Mississippi Valley Division’s Regional Channel Improvement Program completes revetment maintenance
annually on critical portions of a 1,000-mile reach of the Mississippi River from Cairo, Illinois, to Head of Passes, Louisiana (photograph: Army Corps,
January 2018).

8 Reliable Systems: Navigation – Ports, Locks, and Dredging

 Reliable Systems
Canals and Pipelines

Potholes Canal, Columbia Basin Project, Washington (photograph: Reclamation, September 2018).

Reclamation water conveyance facilities include • Implementation of Reclamation’s new title transfer
approximately 8,000 miles of main line canals. Most authority under Public Law 116-9 will streamline
are open channel and many are lined. Additionally, the process for water users to take title to canals and
Reclamation owns inverted siphons and pressurized other water-related facilities, where appropriate. This
pipelines used for the conveyance of irrigation water to will allow Reclamation to focus its operation and
irrigation districts or water districts for direct delivery. maintenance efforts on priority assets while providing
Reclamation’s water conveyance systems range in age from water users with more flexibility to meet local or
over 100 years old to newly-constructed. regional needs through operational changes.

Strengths Challenges

• Reclamation conveyance facilities are inspected every • Over 1,000 miles of Reclamation’s canal sections are
three to six years, with the more frequent inspections classified as urbanized. Reclamation is in the second
focusing on canals in urban areas. These inspection phase of a Bureau-wide canal condition analysis, an
programs are designed to ensure safe and reliable ongoing process using monitoring to prioritize action
operation and to maximize cost-effectiveness by and enable informed decision making. Targeted risk
targeting priority maintenance and rehabilitation efforts. reduction and investment will be required over the long
• Nearly 90 percent of Reclamation conveyance facilities term to maintain safe and reliable operations.
are transferred works, where operations, maintenance, • Managing Reclamation’s inventory of large diameter
and replacement are funded and executed by a non- PCCP requires continued investment. This inventory
Federal partner. Reclamation coordinates with the has been in service for 25 to 60 years with over 40
operating partners on inspections for these facilities. installations totaling approximately 140 miles of pipe.
• Specialized inspections are conducted for inaccessible Corrosion of this material has led to recent sudden
features and specific asset types such as prestressed failures. Reclamation is taking proactive measures
concrete cylinder pipe (PCCP). Risk analyses and to assess the condition of its full inventory of PCCP
planning scenarios inform proactive management through electromagnetic inspection from inside
actions. the pipe, conducting associated risk analyses, and
conducting planning scenarios for anticipated repairs
and replacements.

Reliable Systems: Canals and Pipelines 9

 Reliable Systems
Recreation Facilities
The range of recreation infrastructure includes boat Strengths
launches, marinas, campground facilities, roads, parking
lots, and numerous buildings and structures that require • The Army Corps’ recreation program provides safe
routine inspection, maintenance, repairs, and replacements. outdoor public access and recreation experiences to
These assets provide safe access to recreation for serve the needs of present and future generations. The
hundreds of millions of visitors without impacting the program contributes to the quality of American life,
dynamic multiple missions of the agencies’ water-related while managing and conserving natural resources
infrastructure. consistent with ecosystem management principles
and protecting all project mission purposes. These
The Army Corps is one of the leading Federal providers of recreation areas are located at existing water resource
outdoor recreation with 270 million visits at more than 400 projects, increasing overall project benefits.
lake and river projects in 42 states. The Army Corps and • Reclamation’s recreation areas evolved from
non-Federal entities manage 4,865 developed recreation projects that originally focused on single-purpose
areas on more than 12 million acres. agricultural objectives. The multipurpose approach
to water resource development includes recreation
Reclamation manages almost 8 million acres of land as an important benefit. Reclamation’s recreational
and water, most of which is available for public outdoor infrastructure plays a major role in meeting the
recreation. More than 240 developed recreation areas are increasing public demands for water-based outdoor
managed by Reclamation or its non-Federal recreation recreation facilities and opportunities.
partners. • The Army Corps and Reclamation both work with
Recreation.gov to share recreation opportunities across
the country.

Challenges

• Recreation facilities (many constructed 50 to 70

years ago) continue to degrade as public demand for
recreational opportunities increase.
• Challenges are faced in maintaining boundaries to
protect lands and natural resources, such as timber and
cultural sites, due to pressure from increased population
size, adjacent development, and adjacent private land
Raystown Lake, Seven Points Beach. Labor Day 2018 (photograph: Army ownership.
Corps, September 2018). • Effective management requires balancing a range of
competing interests, such as accommodating visitors,
accommodating economic and commercial uses,
conserving environmental and cultural resources,
planning for natural resources management, allowing
public access, performing trespass abatement and
law enforcement, and remediating damage to land
resources.

McKay Park/Bend Whitewater Park on the Deschutes River in Bend,

Oregon (photograph: Reclamation, July 2018).

10 Reliable Systems: Recreation Facilities

 Reliable Systems
Bridges and Roads

Murray Lock and Dam Bridge, Little Rock, Arkansas (photograph: Army Corps, May 2007).

Transportation infrastructure is critical for supporting Army Corps has some of the oldest bridges in the Federal
the range of missions associated with water-related inventory; the average age of Army Corps-owned NBI
infrastructure, including flood control, hydropower bridges is 55 years, and 21 percent of these bridges are over
production, navigation, water supply, recreation and 75 years old and 5 percent are over 100 years old. Of the
environmental protection. Public roads and bridges are Army Corps’ NBI inventory of bridges, 5 percent are in
key to allowing safe public access to Federal lands for poor or worse condition and 17 percent are rated as being
recreation and for providing critical transportation corridors in fair or borderline poor condition.
across or along the projects. Both the Army Corps and
Reclamation bridges provide access to high priority
Reclamation have a significant quantity of bridge and road
infrastructure, allow for efficient operation and
assets and participate in the Federal Land Transportation
maintenance of Reclamation infrastructure, and provide
program under the Federal Lands Highways Office.
access to Federal land. Reclamation has a total of 1,436
Bridges provide access to project features for maintenance bridges, of which 286 are significant public vehicular
and operations of mission infrastructure, visitation, and bridges that are reportable to the NBI. The average age
general transportation across the projects. The Army Corps of Reclamation’s NBI bridges is 53 years; 16 percent are
has a total of 959 bridges in their inventory; 252 of these over 75 years old and 3 percent are over 100 years old.
bridges are significant public vehicular bridges and are In addition, among Reclamation’s NBI bridges, 7 percent
reportable to the National Bridge Inventory (NBI). The are in poor or worse condition and 15 percent are in fair
condition.

Reliable Systems: Bridges and Roads 11

 • For roads, Reclamation and the Army Corps both use
industry standard condition metrics such as Pavement
Condition Rating and Pavement Surface Evaluation and
Rating for condition assessments, performed on a five-
year cycle. For roads within a recreation area, the Army
Corps has integrated the manual visual assessment
version into operational condition assessments.
• New road design, construction, maintenance, and
management technologies and techniques are
constantly being developed and both agencies
incorporate new methods as possible. The Federal
The Philadelphia District’s Reedy Point Bridge at the Delaware River Highway Administration helps support innovations
(Delaware Route 9), constructed in 1968, spans the Chesapeake and
Delaware Canal connecting the Delaware River with the Chesapeake Bay
such as the use of 3D engineered models for more
in the states of Delaware and Maryland (photograph: Army Corps, August accurate and efficient planning and construction; new
2007). methods to determine how to best preserve pavement;
and tools to make permitting reviews more efficient.
New materials and technology, such as increasing the
use of permeable paving materials to reduce storm
runoff and using recycled materials in pavement, are
also helping roads become more reliable and resilient.

Challenges

• Narrow roadways at project sites do not always safely

Davis Dam Forebay Bridge at Davis Dam, Arizona. Construction 1949 accommodate recreational vehicles and pedestrians,
(photograph: Reclamation, October 2018). especially roadways built on structures.
• Both agencies maintain a large inventory of aging
In addition to bridges, the Army Corps and Reclamation bridges that ensure that mission requirements, public
maintain more than 10 thousand miles of paved or unpaved traffic requirements, and basic needs for project
public roads. The Army Corps submits an annual inventory access are met. Funding needs are increasing as
on 7,976 miles of public roads that provide access to nearly more bridges become structurally deficient due to
12 million acres of land and water, providing access for the inventory nearing the end of its design life, and
public use areas, project management offices, and crossings capital investments have not always kept pace with
over bridges, dams, and levees. Of the Army Corps’ paved deteriorating conditions. Ongoing work also involves
road inventory, 30 percent is in fair or poor condition and the need to fully inventory all bridges (agency-owned
45 percent of the unpaved road condition is in fair or poor or owned by others) that cross project facilities.
condition. Reclamation submits an annual public road • Reclamation is completing its first cycle of road
inventory on 2,780 miles of roads. Reclamation roads condition assessments. The agency is currently about
provide public access to over 7.7 million acres of public half way through the first comprehensive condition
land. assessment of public roads as performed by the
Federal Highway Administration. The Army Corps
Strengths is integrating road condition assessments into the
Operational Condition Assessment process.
• For bridges, both Reclamation and the Army Corps
employ systematic programs that follow Federal
Highway Administration and American Association of
State Highway Transportation Officials rating methods.
Routine inspections are generally completed every 24
months. Certain bridges also receive more advanced
inspections such as fracture-critical inspections or
underwater inspections.

12 Reliable Systems: Bridges and Roads

 Keeping Communities Safe
Levees

The Ceredo-Kenova Local Protection Project manages flood risk from The Lawrenceburg levee system in Dearborn County, Indiana reduces
the Ohio River and Big Sandy River to the cities of Kenova and Ceredo, flood risk from the Ohio River to the City of Lawrenceburg, Indiana (photo-
Wayne County, West Virginia (photograph: Army Corps, circa 2001). graph: Army Corps, June 2010).

Levees are typically earthen embankments or concrete Strengths

floodwalls, designed and constructed to contain, control,
or divert the flow of water to reduce the risk of temporary • The Army Corps’ Levee Safety program mirrors its
flooding. The Army Corps Levee Safety Program portfolio Dam Safety program, which prioritizes its portfolio
is prioritized by a risk-informed decision making process. through a risk-informed decision making process.
One of the Army Corps’ primary missions is flood risk • The Army Corps is leading efforts to identify best
management, and levees have been successful in reducing practices in levee safety to help other agencies and the
flooding during many events. Although not all levee Nation develop procedures for levee safety programs
systems in the Army Corps portfolio are managed by the and submit information to the national levee database.
Army Corps, risk information is provided to local
or regional levee managers to inform management Challenges
improvements and resource prioritization. It is anticipated
that this risk information can also be used by levee • Changing flood conditions, magnitudes, frequencies,
sponsors to demonstrate and communicate funding needs. and increased population density can increase risk.
• Resources are increasingly focused on reacting to and
The Army Corps’ levee portfolio includes about 2,220 levee recovering from significant natural catastrophic events.
systems totaling 14,287 miles in length. Levee sponsors • Challenges are faced in effectively communicating risk
operate and maintain over 2,000 levee systems that make to the public.
up roughly 70 percent of the length contained in the • Maintenance and replacement needs and costs are
entire portfolio; the remaining systems are operated and increasing. If not addressed, deferred maintenance may
maintained by the Army Corps. result in additional levee safety issues.
• A careful balance is required to manage the safety of
facilities while minimizing impacts to the environment.

Keeping Communities Safe: Levees 13

 Keeping Communities Safe
Dam Safety Programs

Anderson Ranch Dam, Idaho. Construction 1941-1950 (photograph: Reclamation, October 2018).

Water-related infrastructure and associated facilities Through maintenance management, operational condition
produce a wide range of benefits across multiple business assessments, risk assessment, and portfolio analytics, the
areas. For instance, while the original authorization for Army Corps and Reclamation develop risk information that
a given lock and dam may have focused purely on flood improves inputs to investment decisions. This philosophy
control, the pool created by these assets may also provide ensures a uniform, consistent, and repeatable process to
recreation and water supply opportunities that influence support risk-informed budget decisions that comply with
benefits such as economics, environmental conditions, and law and appropriations.
quality of life.
Reclamation’s world-class Dam Safety Program has
The condition of Army Corps and Reclamation established a risk-informed framework to meet the program
infrastructure is regularly evaluated through several objectives, requirements of the Reclamation Safety of
programs for the review of operation and maintenance of Dams Act, and the Federal Guidelines for Dam Safety.
assets. The Army Corps and Reclamation use risk-informed Risk-informed procedures are used to assess the safety of
evaluation methodologies to assess the current asset structures, aid in making decisions to protect the public
condition and the consequences of asset failure. Evaluation from the potential consequences of dam failure, assist
findings are used to establish a relative risk indicator to in prioritizing the allocation of resources, and support
support portfolio investment decisions within an authorized justification for risk reduction actions where needed.
project.
Similar to Reclamation, the Army Corps asset management
As an example of a key review, the Army Corps and approach makes use of risk evaluations involving
Reclamation administer High- and Significant-Hazard determinations of likelihood developed from asset
Dam Examination programs. The detailed evaluations condition ratings and determinations of consequences
ensure that high- and significant-hazard dams are operated developed from measures of performance and benefit. A
and maintained properly and effectively, that they will consistent, risk-based approach lends clarity to investment
continue to provide project benefits, and that they will not choices.
create unacceptable risks to public safety and welfare, or to
property and the environment.

14 Keeping Communities Safe: Dam Safety Programs

 Keeping Communities Safe
Protecting and Restoring the Environment
Water-related infrastructure plays an important role The Army Corps plays a key role in reducing the
in managing and protecting the Nation’s environment negative impacts of invasive species on ecosystems and
and natural resources. Functioning ecosystems serve as infrastructure. As the primary Federal agency charged
“natural infrastructure” that provides many services to our with researching invasive aquatic plants, the Army Corps
communities. The Army Corps and Reclamation protect conducts ground-breaking research to support efficient
and restore this natural infrastructure through several control while minimizing impacts to natural systems.
programs.
Reclamation has significant involvement in the protection
The Army Corps’ Regulatory program evaluates permit of natural resources throughout the western United States.
applications for construction activities that occur in the These larger efforts include significant portions of river
Nation’s waters, including wetlands. The program is basins, cover numerous fish and wildlife species and their
committed to protecting the Nation’s aquatic resources and habitats, and extend over the long term, with planning,
navigation capacity while allowing reasonable development implementation, and environmental compliance coverage
through fair and balanced decisions. The Army Corps’ as much as 50 years into the future.
Natural Resource Management program’s mission is to
manage and conserve natural resources on Army Corps Reclamation’s restoration and enhancement activities are
land and waters, consistent with ecosystem management aligned with project purposes. Reclamation has identified
principles, while providing quality public outdoor nine major river restoration efforts that are tracked for
recreation experiences to serve the needs of present and various reporting requirements. In some cases, Reclamation
future generations. The Army Corps promotes awareness of projects have authorizing legislation that includes benefits
environmental values and incorporates sustainability into to fish and wildlife as one of the project purposes,
its decision processes and culture. such as the construction of fish passage facilities, fish
barrier removal, or river and stream-bank protection and
enhancement.

Kissimmee River restoration in south Florida, an element of the Water hyacinth is an invasive plant that impedes commercial navigation on
Everglades Restoration project (photograph: Army Corps, the McClellan-Kerr Arkansas River during peak summer growing months.
October 2009). The Army Corps manages water hyacinth across the country through
integrated pest management to reduce impacts to all project purposes and
minimize negative impacts on the environment (photograph: Army Corps,
September 2018).

Keeping Communities Safe: Protecting and Restoring the Environment 15

Strengths

• Restoration activities by the Army Corps and

Reclamation often support efforts to protect and
recover species listed under the Endangered Species
Act, such as salmon.

• Most of the Army Corps’ and Reclamation’s

restoration, enhancement, and land management
activities involve partnerships and cooperation with:
Federal, state, and local agencies; Tribal Governments;
and various non-profit environmental conservation
organizations and stakeholders. Partnerships help
ensure successful implementation through cost-sharing
efforts that provide hundreds of millions of dollars in Fish ladder at John Day Lock and Dam, Columbia River near Rufus,
funding. Oregon (photograph: Army Corps, July 2002).

• The Army Corps constructs barriers to keep invasive

Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes. Reclamation and
the Army Corps both support invasive species control
across service areas and collaborate with states and
other partners to construct watercraft inspection
stations to prevent the spread of zebra and quagga
mussels, and to prevent infestations which could cause
billions of dollars in damage to private and publicly-
owned infrastructure such as power plants and water
intakes.

• The Army Corps attempts to incorporate natural and

nature-based features into its projects in all mission
areas through its Engineering with Nature Program.

Challenges A Reclamation civil engineer with the San Joaquin River Restoration
Program in California handles an adult spring-run Chinook salmon
• Changing landscapes, competing demands for water, (photograph: Reclamation, May 2019).

and dynamic environmental conditions continue

to create challenges in designing, prioritizing, and
implementing restoration projects nationwide.

• The demand for restoration projects continues to

increase and challenges limited Federal resources to
complete, maintain, or initiate new projects.

• Invasive species will continue to threaten infrastructure

and ecosystems throughout the United States.
Preventing the spread of and early eradication of
invasive species is critical to protection of our nation’s
infrastructure and economy.

River restoration to improve salmon and steelhead habitat. Yankee Fork,

Idaho (photograph: Reclamation, November 2012).

16 Keeping Communities Safe: Protecting and Restoring the Environment

Security Response Force members at Hoover Dam. Hoover Dam, Nevada (photograph: Reclamation, November 2017)

Keeping Communities Safe

Facility Security
To protect the public, and to protect the Nation’s investment Dams Sector community to facilitate resilience of
in critical infrastructure, Reclamation has actively integrated water systems throughout the United States.
integrated security into its facility management practices.
By developing and implementing a comprehensive risk The Army Corps applies an integrated risk management
assessment program that encompasses infrastructure, approach to facility security. Risk-informed security
information, and personnel, the Security Program supports strategies that address both physical and cyber security
the overall Reclamation mission to deliver water and threats are provided to ensure the delivery of the Army
power. Comprehensive facility assessments provide facility Corps mission and to secure the Homeland. Through an
improvement recommendations which are then prioritized integrated protection program, the Army Corps implements
by risk. The Program has made significant facility and multiple security and mission assurance programs
procedural improvements through the application of across the agency. This approach and associated Army
fortification funds. By design, these improvements are Corps policies, along with accompanying U.S. Department
often invisible to the visiting public. Reclamation actively of Homeland Security and Department of Defense policies,
engages with the Army Corps in a variety of forums to outline the risk management to integrate and coordinate
ensure consistent policies and strategies for infrastructure security programs and facilitate risk-informed decision
protection. These forums also help support the greater making in an all hazards environment.

Keeping Communities Safe: Facility Security 17

Imperial Diversion Dam, Lower Colorado River. Construction 1936-1938 (photograph: Reclamation, March 2012).

Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future

Inspection and Asset Management Programs
Reliable performance of the Nation’s water resources Both agencies must balance the competing demands of
infrastructure is essential to the asset portfolio’s ability to a single asset having multiple functions. Risk-informed
deliver safe and dependable service. The Army Corps and evaluation methodologies are used to address the multi-
Reclamation operate, maintain, and manage more than purpose character of their assets, to include assessing the
$232 billion and $111 billion of the Nation’s water-related current condition of an asset and the consequences of its
infrastructure assets, respectively. From navigation locks failure in order to establish a relative risk index supporting
and hydropower plants to dams and recreation areas, these portfolio investment decisions within an authorized project.
assets are a vital part of the Nation’s economy, safety,
and security, and must be managed in an accountable and The Army Corps and Reclamation Asset Management
responsible manner. Programs use a strategic investment framework to optimize
the delivery of benefits to the Nation. The framework
Both agencies carry out this responsibility through a allows the application of this same approach to planning
“structured asset management system,” which is a risk- for new infrastructure as well as the disposition of
informed decision-making approach that assesses the life- infrastructure no longer needed. This framework and the
cycle of a portfolio of projects within a watershed system. implementation of asset management within each agency
By consciously employing an asset management system, is aligned with the Institute of Asset Management’s
the Army Corps and Reclamation seek to optimize value (IAM) Conceptual Model to outline a path forward for the
derived from the portfolio for the benefit of the agencies management of assets and the actions necessary to enable
and their stakeholders. The application of a performance- success. The IAM is a non-profit professional body of asset
based, risk-informed lifecycle approach across all water management experts that provides guidelines and processes
infrastructure systems allows for prioritization of limited that ensure a comprehensive asset management strategy for
funding to make improved investment choices at key an organization. While Reclamation and the Army Corps
decision points throughout the complete life cycle of a have successfully managed their assets since inception,
project. adopting a formal asset management approach consistent

18 Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future: Inspection and Asset Management Programs
with modern practices and techniques is necessary to • Systematically monitor and maintain asset condition
continue that success and meet current challenges: to prevent, or to diminish to an acceptable degree, the
consequences of operational (component or system)
• Accurate asset information is needed to support
failure.
budget requests with clear business cases to support
• Structure resource allocation decision-making to
infrastructure investments.
optimize value derived from assets, across all agency
• Comprehensive, long-term planning strategies are
missions and geographic boundaries.
needed to safely extend the useful lives of these assets,
• Track the execution of the budget in context of the
invest limited funds wisely, enhance public safety, and
lifecycle plans to ensure planned benefits are realized
reduce or mitigate the consequences of infrastructure
to the maximum extent possible.
failure.
• Provide a strategy for operations, maintenance, capital
• Resources are limited for managing and maintaining
investment, and disposition decision-making at all
assets that are reaching or exceeding their design lives.
levels.
Each agency’s asset management approach provides • “Right-size” the asset inventory and balance benefits,
common practices for inventorying, assessing, and consequences of failure, and risk against lifecycle
categorizing assets to help determine each asset’s strengths, costs.
weaknesses, and value to the system’s mission in order to: • Help improve reliability, minimize risk, and meet
projected infrastructure demands.
• Prioritize lifecycle value at all stages of the project
• Formalize business processes that standardize best
(planning, design, procurement, construction, and
practices, promote accountability, and predict work
operation & maintenance, etc.) to maximize portfolio
requirements.
benefits and minimize cost.
• Maintain asset information corporately so that
Consistent asset management approaches throughout the
condition, cost, and resource requirements will be
agencies supports the Army Corps and Reclamation in
consistently communicated to stakeholders at the
working with Tribal Governments, other Federal agencies,
national, regional, and local level.
states, local governments, the private sector, and the public
to manage infrastructure in a responsible and cost-effective
manner.

Arrowrock Dam, Idaho. Construction 1911-1915 (photograph: Reclamation, April 2013).

Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future: Inspection and Asset Management Programs 19
 Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future
Water Supply
Addressing future water supply needs will require effective The Army Corps and Reclamation foresee the following
actions for the maintenance, protection, and enhancement challenges in addressing water supply needs into the future:
of water-related infrastructure. Careful management of the
Nation’s water supply is critical to limiting water shortages • Increasing populations in the western U.S. have
and lessening the impact of droughts. resulted in an increased need to access and use
available water supply storage in reservoirs.
Army Corps and Reclamation facilities store water to • For Reclamation, droughts have made water supply
provide municipal and industrial and irrigation water which operations and revenues more variable, and resources
supports the health of communities, food supplies, and are required to meet partner needs and maintain public
industry. Reclamation supplies water to 10 million acres of health and safety.
farmland and over 140,000 farmers in the western U.S. • The availability of water storage can be limited by
siltation issues and dam safety restrictions.
The Army Corps has 136 multiple purpose projects that • It will be important to continue to expand coordination
contain storage for water supply in 26 states. These projects with partners and stakeholders in order to balance
provide nearly 10 million acre-feet of water supply storage the costs associated with project rehabilitation and
for municipal and industrial use, sufficient to meet indoor operation and maintenance of facilities.
household needs of 101 million people.
Through programs such as WaterSMART and the
Water Infrastructure Improvements for the Nation Act,
Reclamation will continue to work cooperatively with
Tribal Governments, states, and local entities to implement
actions to increase water supply by modernizing existing
facilities and building out new infrastructure. WaterSMART
supports investments in existing infrastructure to increase
water supply reliability by leveraging Federal and non-
Federal funding. The WaterSMART Program includes
funding for cost-shared grants for water management
improvement projects; collaborative efforts in the Basin
Study Program to address imbalances between supply and
demand; Title XVI Water Reclamation and Reuse projects;
collaborative watershed projects through the Cooperative
Watershed Management Program; planning and design
activities through the Water Conservation Field Services
Program; and drought planning and implementation actions
to proactively address water shortages. The programs
included in WaterSMART are collaborative in nature
and work is done in partnership and cooperation with
non-Federal entities and other Federal agencies to reduce
conflict, facilitate solutions to complex water issues, and
stretch limited supplies.

Department of the Interior officials visit a project in Reclamation’s

Southern California Area Office (photograph: Reclamation, April 2012).

20 Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future: Water Supply

 Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future
How the Army Corps and Reclamation are
Working Together

Hoover Dam, Boulder City, Nevada. Construction 1931-1936 (photograph: Reclamation, May 1996).

The Army Corps and Reclamation have a long history of for river navigation, hydropower, irrigation, flood risk
collaborating on the evaluation, construction, and operation management, recreation areas, fish ladders, utility systems,
and maintenance of water infrastructure projects with a and laboratories.
variety of asset types. The agencies have asset management
responsibility for a diverse portfolio of water-related A Federal Asset Management Working Group was
constructed assets. With a number of facilities now over established to link asset management professionals from
100 years old, both agencies are responsibly managing the Army Corps, Reclamation, the Western Area Power
aging infrastructure issues. Administration, and the Bonneville Power Administration
to collaborate on asset management best practices and
The Army Corps and Reclamation have multi-purpose solutions to asset management challenges, and to provide
asset portfolios which include assets that range in size and a forum to expand the group’s knowledge in order for all
complexity, span large geographic areas, and serve a variety agencies to maximize the value of the Federal assets.
of functions. Assets range from simple boat launches to
massive dams, extensive levee systems, and locks as long The Army Corps and Reclamation also coordinate on dam
as four football fields. These portfolios include structures safety programs. Dams must be operated and maintained

Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future: How the Army Corps and Reclamation are Working Together 21
in a safe manner, ensured through inspections for safety The Army Corps and Reclamation also collaborate to
deficiencies, analyses utilizing current technologies, and address reservoir sedimentation issues. Federal reservoirs
corrective actions, if needed, based on current engineering provide the largest percentage of water storage volumes in
practices. The Army Corps and Reclamation Safety of the United States. Monitoring sediment accumulation and
Dams programs use similar approaches to evaluate and changes in the rate of accumulation in these reservoirs is
implement actions to resolve safety concerns at dams. essential to understanding the magnitude and geographic
Under these programs, the Army Corps and Reclamation extent of reduced storage volume due to sediment
complete studies and identify and accomplish needed accumulation. Evaluating reservoir vulnerabilities to
corrective action on high- and significant-hazard dams. The changes in sedimentation rates is critical to the long-
selected course of action relies on assessments of risks and term management and reliable performance of reservoirs.
liabilities with environmental and public involvement input An interdisciplinary and interagency project team was
to the decision-making process. established that utilizes Army Corps regional technical
specialists and the Army Corps Committee on Channel
An example of close collaboration on critical infrastructure Stabilization. The Army Corps developed a baseline
needs is the Folsom Dam auxiliary spillway, also known report on reservoir sedimentation status and related efforts
as the Joint Federal Project (featured on the cover and on leverage existing information and maximize knowledge
page 2). related to reservoir sedimentation and associated impacts.
This work supports further interagency collaboration
through the U.S. Geological Survey’s interagency
Reservoir Sedimentation Database.

More than 70 people attended the October 2015 Arrowrock Dam Centennial celebration in Idaho, including officials, senior leaders, and representatives
from the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, Reclamation, the Army Corps, Senator Jim Risch’s office, Senator Mike Crapo’s office, Representative Mike
Simpson’s office, and the State of Idaho (photograph: Reclamation, October 2015).

22 Protecting Investments and Planning for the Future: How the Army Corps and Reclamation are Working Together
Moving Forward

The three images above represent the inventory of water-related infrastructure managed by the Army Corps and Reclamation, providing mission-critical
power generation, navigation, and water supply benefits to the Nation (photographs: Reclamation, September 2018, left; Army Corps, July 2016, center;
Reclamation, September 2018, right).

Over the Nation’s history, investments in water-related • Increases and shifts in population that result in
infrastructure have resulted in a robust inventory of vital, changing water supply and power needs, new
long-term assets. This infrastructure is one of the recreational demands, changes in potential
Nation’s most valuable assets and the Army Corps and consequences that affect risk management strategies,
Reclamation are committed to maintaining, protecting, and and ongoing updates to facility security measures.
improving the infrastructure to ensure continued delivery of • Changes in the magnitudes and frequencies of
power generation, water supply, navigation, public safety, hydrologic events, resulting in the potential for greater
recreation, and other benefits. The agencies will continue damages to exposed areas and a need for continued and
to efficiently manage taxpayer funds and will pursue improved monitoring and response capabilities so that
opportunities to respond to evolving influences on water- water-related infrastructure can provide the Nation with
related infrastructure such as: vital benefits long into the future.

List of Acronyms and Abbreviations:

Acronym or Abbreviation Definition
Army Corps U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
IAM Institute of Asset Management
NBI National Bridge Inventory
PCCP Prestressed concrete cylinder pipe
Reclamation Bureau of Reclamation
WaterSMART Sustain and Manage America’s Resources for Tomorrow

Moving Forward 23
 Hoover Dam hydropower facilities (photograph: Reclamation, October 2011).

State of the Infrastructure

A Joint Report by the Bureau of Reclamation and the
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

www.usace.army.mil www.usbr.gov
EP-25-1-117